Shaken, the sophomore album from singer, composer, and pedal steel virtuoso Maggie Bjorklund, is a well-timed release for the month of October. The fall changing foliage outside and the crisp air pairs well with Bjorklund’s hauntingly beautiful voice and the ominous tonality of her songwriting. Bjorklund, a mainstay in rock golden boy Jack White’s band (she is also featured on his record-setting album Lazaretto), lays down quite a few dirges and uses dark imagery and dissonance to convey emotion throughout Shaken’s 11 tracks.
For her second record Bjorklund rounded up a core group of ace musicians to bring her poetic musical works to life. John Convertino (Calexico) pulls the backbeat out of the drums with soft, tonal precision. Barb Hunter weaves eerie cello lines throughout the tracks along with Jim Parr (Portishead) on bass. John Parish, the album’s producer, also took on guitar and electric bass roles.
Much like her debut album Coming Home, Maggie’s trusty Sho-Bud pedal steel is the melodic focal point for the bulk of her work. “Walking,” an upbeat number that may even get the listener up and dancing, puts Bjorklund in the role of storyteller, propping up her lyrics with her melodic playing. The instrumental “Missing at Sea” takes her glistening steel chops outside of the box and pushes her playing to new limits.
The record’s opener, “Dark Side of the Heart,” is a mostly instrumental number with a dragging drumbeat, a melody sung by a resonating cello, and haunting chant vocals similar to a Danny Elfman score.
The ghostly sounds continue to resonate throughout “Bottom of the Well” and the instrumental “The Road to Samarkand.” Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner, a Nashville icon, lends his vocal talents for the duet “Fro Fro Heart.” Wagner and Bjorklund move in small circles as if lyrically plotting something diabolical.
Shaken’s heavy thematic foundation revolves around Bjorklund’s loss of her mother. Numbers such as “Name in the Sand” and “Teach Me How to Say Goodbye” both express the pain of a daughter who is struggling with losing such a crucial person.
Whether played all the way through or skipping around between tracks, Shaken lays itself out like one dark and hazy dream. The songs are big on both depth and warmth, whether instrumental or complimented by Bjorklund’s vocals. Originally from Cophenhagen, Bjorklund blends European influences with Southern roots and Western flare. The album lacks in catchy hooks and may not find its way into the commuter rotation, but for those with great appreciation for compositional talent and the ability to blend musicianship with intense human emotion, there is a space for Shaken on your device of choice.
Shaken drops on this week via Bloodshot Records. Bjorklund’s bread and butter gig with Jack White has her on the road with him until early 2015. Keep an eye on her Facebook page and hopefully she’ll pop up for some solo shows.
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Kevin Ott
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