- An acoustic record is a rite of passage for most artists with a long-spanning career, and it can often be an insight into the inner workings of their mind and a sort of proof that they can excel in the true, harsh spotlight, when there are no extravagant musical arrangements to hide amongst. MassEducation, a reimagination of St Vincent’s 2017 record Masseduction, is one of these acoustic records that adds an element of reality to a musician otherwise known for her artistic extravaganza. Perhaps we get to see less of St Vincent and more of Annie Clark, the woman behind the persona. Gone are the guitar fuelled gimmicks of the past and instead we are exposed to the true vulnerability of Clark's vocals and lyricism.
Saviour is a far cry from the sex fuelled blaster of her 2017 effort. Instead it has a softness that builds in urgency as Clark's voice cracks and falls around upper registers and whispered lyrics that were sometimes inaudible in her previous approach. Frenetic piano lays underneath, building and boiling and providing an atmospheric backing that gives St Vincent's vocals room to breathe. Young Lover is taken down a notch or three in tempo and the once jaunty banger is transformed into a depressing ballad, turning tongue in cheek lyrics into a cry for help.
Even on tracks that were stripped back on Masseduction such as New York, Happy Birthday Johnny and Smoking Section, Clark manages to rework them into something even more subdued. The first verses of Smoking Section are almost acapella, with ominous piano building subtly as later verses become increasingly morbid. This lonely approach gives more weight to the depressing story, making lyrics such as “Sometimes I go to the edge of my roof / And I think I'll jump just to punish you” seem stark and gaunt rather than melodramatic.
It's not just about unpacking the lost lyrics of Masseduction, this record is just as much about the complex piano arrangements provided by collaborator Thomas Bartlett. Never outshining the main attraction, but rather, providing a stage for St Vincent to perform upon, the preciseness of every note allows us to hear the imperfections in her voice - sometimes flat or crackly and other times warped by emotion or breath. This crack through the otherwise shiny exterior of the guitar goddess you've come to know provides an insight into her mind and feelings.
St Vincent has always been known and applauded for her bold artistic choices, and where sometimes they can be hard to digest, MassEducation is an amalgamation of the vulnerability that has been hiding behind her previous work. MassEducation is more than a reimagination of Masseduction, it's a rebirth - a new entity in its own right.
- Olivia Shoesmith.