Recorded in Glasgow, Scotland with
Aidan Moffat
and
David Gow
of
Arab Strap
, and
Ali Roberts
Appendix Out
,
The Lioness
explores similar territory as the previous
Songs: Ohia
album,
Axxess and Ace
, namely the volatility of relationships. But the mood here is much bleaker than the previous album, and there's more of a feeling a desperation in
Jason Molina
's vocals. On the opening track,
"The Black Crow,"
he sings "I look down / and see the whole world / and it's fading." With the rest of the album,
Molina
personalizes the universal, lamenting fading love and clinging to it for dear life. Sonically, there is more experimentation on
than other releases, with flashes of keyboards and duel guitars, but the hallmark, as always, is
's inimitable voice. ~ Jason Nickey