Itasca
Spring
(Paradise of Bachelors)
★★★★

LOS ANGELES-BASED musician Kayla Cohen, who records under the moniker Itasca, wrote her seventh album in an old adobe house in New Mexico, having retreated there for two seasons partly in response to the election of Donald Trump.

Inspired by the history and distinctive landscape of the region, the organic folky ballads on Spring constitute a set of impressionistic, sun-dappled travelogues.

Accompanied by members of Gun Outfit, Bitchin’ Bajas and James Elkington, Cohen’s hushed vocals beautifully meld with her terrific acoustic guitar strumming, piano, discreet strings and the occasional lap steel guitar.