As Day Follows Night

Sarah Blasko’s caressing, slightly melancholy voice puts her in the same camp as Leigh Nash and Feist. She finds a sympathetic collaborator in producer Bjorn Yttling (of Peter Bjorn & John fame), who gives her sparse and often quirky sonic backdrops. Thematically, her songs search for hope amidst broken relationships and free-floating angst, often pairing bittersweet melodies with confessional lyrics. Blasko combines folk diva elegance with cabaret sensuality on conflicted ballads like “Is My Baby Yours?” and “Night & Day.” She radiates life-affirming spirit on “We Won’t Run” and “Sleeper Awake” and offers a call to activism on “Over & Over.” From the ballroom waltz feel of “Down On Love” to the galloping pop of “Hold On My Heart” and the spaghetti-western moodiness of “All I Want,” the album is filled with unexpected textures and colors. Blasko’s charms are often cerebral and understated, but for those with a taste for fine-etched folk-pop, As Day Follows Night is an outstanding release.