The Calcination of Scout Niblett

Emma Louise Niblett is one of the most fascinating music makers of 2010. With a voice that confronts things with the sarcastic twirl of P.J. Harvey and a stripped-down approach that makes every tune sound like an epic demo tape, Niblett is both extreme and accessible. Her emotions and honesty know no limit. Her tunes are catchy and endearing at heart. “Someone’s got to do it, and it might as well be me,” she sings in a twisted warble on “Just Do It” before exploring the empty spaces of the blues-bound title track where her electric guitar baits the drums into pummeling her down. The Calcination derives its beauty from Niblett’s inner soul that has more than enough room to express a deep reservoir of love and hate, hope and fear. “I.B.D.” sounds like a Nirvana song performed after the band’s gone home. “Bargin” has a sweet undertow. The stage is bare and left for Niblett’s infectious yelps. The magic is everywhere: The drums and vocals of “Lucy Lucifer.” The nine-minute brood of “Meet and Greet,” where she recounts the wear and tear of the road with a vengeful eye. Simple yet effective.