A Gogo
With her hazy, passionate, expressive alto, and slightly detached, observational lyrics, what's most accessible in Patty Larkin's music is her crisp, earthen guitar work. On the liveÀ Gogo, she strips away the minimal instrumentation found on her studio recordings and proves she's a songwriter-guitarist who can sing. It's easy to be astonished by the instrumental "Banish Misfortune/Open Hand," a spidery exhibition of Celtic/bluegrass fingerpicking played here with a loving precision that feels like second nature. But even on vocal-heavy tracks such as the wistful, windy "Tango" and bitingly literate "Don't," Larkin's rasp flows when the instrument ebbs, like old friends in balanced conversation. She tenderly sings "I Told Him That My Dog Wouldn't Run" (whichHolly Colecovers), and her inspired rumble of a voice outshines her fingers on "Me and That Train." But, for the most part,À Gogois an album about a guitar and its girl.--Sally Weinbach