Album: Frazey Ford, Obadiah (Nettwerk)

Reviewed by Nick Coleman

Sunday 18 July 2010

You may be familiar with the Be Good Tanyas: charming, literary all-female Canadian retro-folkies.

Frazey Ford is the one who sounds as if she has blancmange in her pants. Tremulous. And this is a tender (often incomprehensible) essay in the poetics of Southern soul, as shaped in the fug of, say, Willie Mitchell (see Solomon Burke review), Al Green, Ann Peebles 'n' all. It lacks raunch, of course, but that doesn't mean Ford's missing the point. She's just interested in a different point. A chilly, soft, wobbly, sweet one.

Suggested Topics
Arts and Entertainment
'Eminem's recovery from substance abuse has made him a more potent performer, with physical charisma and energy he never had before'

Eminem brings rare energy to pop of 2014

Review: Wembley Stadium ***
Arts and Entertainment
‘Dawn of Planet of the Apes’ also looks set for success in the Chinese market

Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes - review

film
News

Charlie Haden, pioneering Jazz bassist, dies at 76

Arts and Entertainment
The successful ITV drama Broadchurch starring David Tenant and Olivia Coleman came to an end tonight

Broadchurch 2 will be 'nothing like Midsomer Murders'

tv
Arts and Entertainment
Characters in the new series are based on real people, say its creators, unlike Arya and Clegane the Dog in ‘Game of Thrones’

Game of Thrones bosses 'not concerned' if George RR Martin finishes books

tv
PROMOTED VIDEO
Arts and Entertainment
Balaban is indirectly responsible for the existence of Downton Abbey, having first discovered Julian Fellowes' talents as a screenwriter

Downton Abbey cast told to stop getting flabby

tv
Arts and Entertainment
Comedian, actor and broadcaster Sanjeev Bhaskar

Sanjeev Bhaskar joins Doctor Who series 8 cast

tv
Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps?
Arts and Entertainment
Chocolat author Joanne Harris has spoken about the financial struggles most authors face

JK Rowling success distorts truth about authors' pay, says Joanne Harris

books
Arts and Entertainment
A scene from How To Train Your Dragon 2

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Review: Imaginative storytelling returns with vigour

film
Arts and Entertainment
Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland and Jena Malone in Mockinjay: Part 1

New Hunger Games Mockingjay trailer released

film
Arts and Entertainment

Meet the 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes

film
Arts and Entertainment
Characters in the new series are based on real people, say its creators, unlike Arya and Clegane the Dog in ‘Game of Thrones’

BBC announces Game of Thrones-inspired drama

tv
Arts and Entertainment
A waxwork of Jane Austen has been unveiled at The Jane Austen Centre in Bath

'Most realistic' depiction of Jane Austen unveiled

books
Arts and Entertainment
Britney Spears has been caught singing without Auto-Tune

Out of tune Britney Spears audio leaks online

music
Arts and Entertainment
Unless films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, pictured, can buck the trend, this summer could be the first in 13 years that not a single Hollywood blockbuster takes $300m

US films enjoy record-breaking run in China

tv
Arts and Entertainment
Miley Cyrus has her magic LSD brain stolen in this crazy video produced with The Flaming Lips

Miley Cyrus teams up with The Flaming Lips to make 'trippy' video

music
Arts and Entertainment
Gay icons: Sesame Street's Bert (right) and Ernie

Are Bert and Ernie really a gay couple?

tv
Arts and Entertainment
Singer Robin Thicke and actress Paula Patton

Robin Thicke's latest album flops in the UK

music
Arts and Entertainment
The new film will be shot in the same studios as the Harry Potter films

JK Rowling pens new Harry Potter story

books
Arts and Entertainment
Duncan Bannatyne left school at 15 and was still penniless at 29

'I'm Out'

Bannatyne leaves Dragon's Den

TV
Arts and Entertainment
The French economist Thomas Piketty wrote that global inequality has worsened

Top 'unread' bestsellers revealed

books
Arts and Entertainment
David Tennant and Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant to do battle at TV Choice Awards

TV
Arts and Entertainment
Ben Affleck plays a despondent Nick Dunne in David Fincher's 'Gone Girl'

New Gone Girl trailer released

film
Arts and Entertainment
Pete Doherty (L) and Carl Barât look at the scene as people begin to be crushed

Pogues fan searches for Libertines fan who saved his life

music
Arts and Entertainment

Danger Mouse remake to get female characters

tv
Arts and Entertainment
Pete Doherty and Caral Barat of The Libertines performs on stage at British Summer Time Festival at Hyde Park

Crowd chaos stops The Libertines at Hyde Park

music
Arts and Entertainment
Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea perform on stage at the Billboard Music Awards 2014

Ariana Grande claims first UK number one to include streaming listens

music
Arts & Ents blogs

How a teddy bear haunted my trip to Open’er

Friday Book Design Blog: Meatspace, by Nikesh Shukla

Sonar’s co-directors on 21 years as Barcelona’s premier electronic music festival

Independent
Travel Shop
the manor
Up to 70% off luxury travel
on city breaks Find out more
santorini
Up to 70% off luxury travel
 on chic beach resorts Find out more
sardina foodie
Up to 70% off luxury travel
 on country retreats Find out more
Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps?

independent images

SPONSORED FEATURES

Topman: Tips from top stylists

Shop London has teamed up with Topman. View the latest film clips shot at Topman Oxford Circus, plus your chance to win a £1,500 voucher.

Win a holiday The Gambia London Trend
Cycling Specsavers #editme
Free Bet Prizes & offers Business videos

Win a tailor-made trip to Graubünden, Switzerland’s No. 1 holiday destination

Discover Swiss alpine holidays – your way

Topman The Gambia London Trend
Cycling Specsavers #editme
Free Bet Prizes & offers Business videos

The Gambia in the Summer

The Gambia may be the smallest country in mainland Africa but this is no reflection of it rich versatile offering.

Topman Win a holiday London Trend
Cycling Specsavers #editme
Free Bet Prizes & offers Business videos

#fashionhappy film competition

Calling all fashionistas! Enter our film competition to win a £2,000 Westfield Gift Card plus an internship at London Live.

Topman Win a holiday The Gambia
Cycling Specsavers #editme
Free Bet Prizes & offers Business videos

Win a family FreeCycle weekend experience

This summer we’ve teamed up with Prudential to offer readers a brilliant opportunity to get the whole family together to experience the fun and freedom of cycling around a 10-mile traffic-free circuit in central London.

Topman Win a holiday The Gambia
London Trend Specsavers #editme
Free Bet Prizes & offers Business videos

Summer Sports Lux

From silk track pants to a swimsuit to make a splash in, this summer’s sport lux moment is certain to stretch your style credentials.

Topman Win a holiday The Gambia
London Trend Cycling #editme
Free Bet Prizes & offers Business videos

Get the look. See the trends.

Westfield and Snapfashion team up to create a new digital styling tool. Create a style board or browse this season's trends. #editme.

Topman Win a holiday The Gambia
London Trend Cycling Specsavers
Free Bet Prizes & offers Business videos

Get £5 free bet with 888sport

Get a £5 free bet every time your team scores in Brazil!

Topman Win a holiday The Gambia
London Trend Cycling Specsavers
#editme Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Topman Win a holiday The Gambia
London Trend Cycling Specsavers
#editme Free Bet Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

Topman Win a holiday The Gambia
London Trend Cycling Specsavers
#editme Free Bet Prizes & offers

ES Rentals

    Independent Dating
    and  

    By clicking 'Search' you
    are agreeing to our
    Terms of Use.

    Iraq crisis: How Saudi Arabia helped Isis take over the north of the country

    How Saudi Arabia helped Isis take over the northern Iraq

    A speech by an ex-MI6 boss hints at a plan going back over a decade. In some areas, being Shia is akin to being a Jew in Nazi Germany, says Patrick Cockburn
    The evolution of Andy Serkis: First Gollum, then King Kong - now the actor is swinging through the trees in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

    The evolution of Andy Serkis

    First Gollum, then King Kong - now the actor is swinging through the trees in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
    You thought 'Benefits Street' was controversial: Follow-up documentary 'Immigrant Street' has got locals worried

    You thought 'Benefits Street' was controversial...

    Follow-up documentary 'Immigrant Street' has got locals worried
    Refugee children from Central America let down by Washington's high ideals

    Refugee children let down by Washington's high ideals

    Democrats and Republicans refuse to set aside their differences to cope with the influx of desperate Central Americas, says Rupert Cornwell
    Children's books are too white, says Laureate

    Children's books are too white, says Laureate

    Malorie Blackman appeals for a better ethnic mix of authors and characters and the illustrator Quentin Blake comes to the rescue
    Blackest is the new black: Scientists have developed a material so dark that you can't see it...

    Blackest is the new black

    Scientists have developed a material so dark that you can't see it...
    Matthew Barzun: America's diplomatic dude

    Matthew Barzun: America's diplomatic dude

    The US Ambassador to London holds 'jeans and beer' gigs at his official residence – it's all part of the job, he tells Chris Green
    Meet the Quantified Selfers: From heart rates to happiness, there is little this fast-growing, self-tracking community won't monitor

    Meet the 'Quantified Selfers'

    From heart rates to happiness, there is little this fast-growing, self-tracking community won't monitor
    Madani Younis: Five-star reviews are just the opening act for British theatre's first non-white artistic director

    Five-star reviews are just the opening act for British theatre's first non-white artistic director

    Madani Younis wants the neighbourhood to follow his work as closely as his audiences do
    Mrs Brown and her boys: are they having a laugh?

    Mrs Brown and her boys: are they having a laugh?

    When it comes to national stereotyping, the Irish – among others – know it can pay to play up to outsiders' expectations, says DJ Taylor
    Gavin Maxwell's bitter legacy: Was the otter man the wildlife champion he appeared to be?

    Otter man Gavin Maxwell's bitter legacy

    The aristocrat's eccentric devotion to his pets inspired a generation. But our greatest living nature writer believes his legacy has been quite toxic
    Joanna Rowsell: The World Champion cyclist on breaking her collarbone, shattering her teeth - and dealing with alopecia

    Joanna Rowsell: 'I wear my wig to look normal'

    The World Champion cyclist on breaking her collarbone, shattering her teeth - and dealing with alopecia
    Bill Granger recipes: Our chef gives raw ingredients a lift with his quick marinades

    Bill Granger's quick and delicious marinades

    Our chef's marinades are great for weekend barbecuing, but are also a delicious way of injecting flavour into, and breaking the monotony of, weekday meals
    Germany vs Argentina World Cup 2014 preview: Why Brazilians don't love their neighbours Argentina any more

    Anyone but Argentina – why Brazilians don’t love their neighbours any more

    The hosts will be supporting Germany in today's World Cup final, reports Alex Bellos
    The Open 2014: Time again to ask that major question - can Lee Westwood win at last?

    The Open 2014

    Time again to ask that major question - can Lee Westwood win at last?