Label – XL/Third Man
Produced by Jack White

It would be easy for most critics to write off Karen Elson before they had even entertained the thought of listening to her music. The supermodel wife of White Stripe record company owner Jack White, one can half imagine the poisoned pen writers arming themselves with cynically snide remarks, warning listeners to take her debut album less than seriously.

Of course the English Country Rock singer is in a position that affords her a degree of media exposure most new artists could only dream of, but to decry her debut album for that reason alone does not justify the fact that she has genuine ability as both songwriter and singer. Indeed, there is surprisingly much to enjoy on “The Ghost Who Walks”, and although generically and melodically similar to many in her field, Elson displays a sweet vocal confidence that’s infused with lyrics that often carry a sinister, if sometimes clichéd message.

Her Oldham roots are unnoticeable as she creates the new persona of the charming Southern belle, adopting a mid Atlantic twang that’s pitched somewhere between All About Eve’s Julianne Regan and Cat Power. She noticeably has an uncanny knack of effectively multi tracking her voice which not only imbues an obvious harmonic skill, but heightens the listener’s awareness of her astute understanding of distilling vocal melodies together seamlessly. Much of the lyrical commentary carries a pseudo-goth imagery, with windswept moorlands, thorny roses, and distant, haunting figures; it gives away little of the extraordinary life of Karen Elson, more the creative muse that lives within the tragic songs of rejected love (“The Thief At My Door”), the murdered victim who returns (“The Ghost Who Walks”), and the unrequited love for the wrong man (“Pretty Babies”).

The highlight is undoubtedly the bluesy “The Truth Is In The Dirt” which is stronger than anything on husband Jack’s recent Dead Weather album and carries a powerful chorus that sees Elson stretching herself beyond the confines of much of the more restrained content that follows it. There’s invention in the thoroughly classic 19th century tones of “100 Years From Now”, which quaintly recalls images of 78 RPM, the gramophone, “Honey Pie” and the old time music hall. Less convincing is “The Birds They Circle”, which despite the dark atmospherics, is littered with stylized lyrics we’ve all heard before, and the dour, fiddle led closer “Mouths To Feed”.

Genuine song writing talent or extra-curricular flight of fancy encouraged by marital circumstances? I would opt for the former. Karen Elson’s debut deserves our respect in that for all the celebrity baggage that surrounds it, “The Ghost Who Walks” still feels like a convincing, and mostly rewarding experience.

7/10

1 The Ghost Who Walks 3:02
2 The Truth Is in the Dirt 3:57
3 Pretty Babies 3:25
4 Lunasa 3:55
5 100 Years From Now 3:13
6 Stolen Roses 3:07
7 Cruel Summer 3:30
8 Garden 4:21
9 The Birds They Circle 3:14
10 A Thief at My Door 3:46
11 The Last Laugh 3:08
12 Mouths to Feed 3:48

Pretty Babies

The Truth Is In The Dirt