Patty Larkin But Larkin stands alone on her latest, "Watch the Sky," taking the concept of a solo album to its extreme: She played every instrument and sang every vocal. More important, though, her approach feels effortless; it's more an interesting footnote than the album's sole gimmick. Better still is her choice to keep her songs simple rather than burden them with unnecessary instrumentation. "All Souls Day" has a haunting sparseness, and slow-paced "Cover Me" pairs Larkin's breathy voice with a minimal guitar line. Her one-woman-band approach is occasionally exposed, such as with the looped guitar that pulses on the instrumental "Bound Brook." But that subtle repetition grounds her more impressionistic flourishes, giving a juxtaposition of structure and fluidity that nicely embodies the song's title. -- Catherine P. Lewis
.: Originally published: The Washington Post: 8 February 2008, Page WE13
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