101

Keren Ann was born in Caesaria, Israel, to a Japanese-Dutch mother and Russian-Israeli father. She was raised in Paris, but now shares her time between Paris and Tel Aviv when not on the road touring. She began captivating U.S. critics and audiences in 2004 with the stateside release of Not Going Anywhere, and proved that she was here to stay with 2005's Nolita and 2007's Keren Ann. And now, almost four years after her last album, Keren Ann is back with 101. Each song is a window into a world, like the windows of the apartment building opposite James Stewart's in Rear Window. Each picture, lit by a different light, is a painting comes to life, a painting in sound and words, telling a story. There is also a new energy, a broader range, a sense of new ground broken. The voice reaches out more, but Keren Ann retains her enigmatic quality, her intimate bond with the listener, and the vignettes still mystify as much as they illuminate. Nothing is sacrificed. Ultimately 101 embodies what Keren Ann's music is all about: The songs, the voice, the sound. Blue Note. 2011.