Red Deer Advocate

The roots music scene has its own rhythm and pace, one less frenetic than that of the mass-market world. In the roots realm, an album is allowed to find its legs and strengthen with the passage of weeks. Manitoban Cara Luft’s The Light Fantastic is one such recording.

This one took months to catch my attention and I admit that had more to do with me than the disc, because this is good stuff. No weepy nonsense for this former Wailin’ Jenny; The Light Fantastic is the culmination of an artist’s concerted efforts.

Give it Up is the most obviously commercial song on the disc, with Luft presenting the Natalie Maines-like tell-off as if she’s lived it, which maybe she has.

Also impressive is the leaving town saga There’s a Train, which culminates in a rocking guitar blast that sounds only slightly out of place.

A masterful rendition of the traditional folk song Black Water Side, one which owes as much to garage bands as it does to Sandy Denny, is another highlight.

For good reason, The Light Fantastic hit the CKUA top 30 for 2007. The range of sounds contained — from the ceremonial bombast of The Light to the Joni Mitchell-gentleness of Wilcox — keeps listeners engaged. Yet the album doesn’t feel disjointed, tied together as it is by Luft’s appealing voice and the instrumental contributions of Hugh McMillan and especially percussionist Christian Dugas.

-Donald Teplyske