Though the subject matter is melancholy, the sound is far from morbid or self-indulgent. In fact, I found myself on a Sunday afternoon, wishing I were on a sunny veranda, tapping my boot away to the very catchy, alt-country harmonies on Hidden Hands. The faultless blend of tunes and voice, a result of real trust and familiarity, serves to highlight the real reason to buy this album: Jen Cloher’s gorgeous voice. There are no bells and whistles (but there ARE banjos!) here, just a firm confidence in the power of talented musos and a strong expressive voice to produce an album that deserves many listens. The disarmingly intimate lyrics will have you believing Jen is your new BFF. There is a roots-and-bluesy element without the grittiness of say, Mia Dyson. It is in the fine traditions of acoustic, folk-rock acts such as Clare Bowditch, The Waifs, and co-producer of Hidden Hands, Laura Jean. Ideally, enjoy the superbly produced Hidden Hands while doing that good ol’ country music thing (no, not a hoe-down) of taking a long drive with the volume up and the windows down. In Cloher’s own words, “We can only go where we’re meant to go. Hidden hands will help us along.”
