Regina Spektor – Far

Russian-born singer-songwriter and master pianist Regina Spektor, as her latest album “Far” testifies to, has to be one of the most talented and creative musicians working today. Take for example “Folding Chair”, in which Regina squeaks part of its chorus like a dolphin, or “Machine”, which effectively incorporates sounds from David Byrne’s “Playing The Building” project into a song that, as Regina describes it, sounds like “robots walking in the snow.” Or you could point to the detail-oriented “Wallet”, where Regina sings about discovering a man’s wallet that she then describes the contents of in a heartfelt and heartbreaking ballad.

Clearly, as introduced in her first album “Begin To Hope” and strengthened in “Far”, quirkiness comes easily to Spektor. What’s amazing about Spektor, however, is her ability to transform her oddity into songs that are uplifting and deep. Never before has a pianist made simplicity so intriguing.

Working with four producers on “Far”, including Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind the Electric Light Orchestra, Spektor has produced an album that feels fresh, yet worn-in like an old baseball mitt. It will take you about one listen to start humming the songs on “Far”, but more than a few to understand their complexity.

Here’s her latest video for the song “Eet”.