On The Grotto Kristin reverts to a starkly acoustic approach, contrasting with the electric, eponymous Throwing Muses album recorded (and released) at the same time. Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) and Andrew Bird (Bowl of Fire) accompany Kristin on this album.
Strange Angels is overall a strong collection of songs and while Hersh's intuitive, poetic lyrics remain as oblique as ever, her unique melodicism keeps things intriguing throughout.
Hersh's gift for crafting fascinating and often disturbing lyrics remains and musically, piano and brass flourishes give the album a more fleshed-out, dynamic sound than some of Hersh's previous solo work.
When Kristin was young, her father would sing Appalachian songs of death and damnation to her. For this album she recreates those songs, with help on vocals and piano from one of her sons! Originally the first of 4AD's mail order only series, it is now widely available.
Hersh dug into her backlog of compositions for material of an intensely personal nature that she felt wouldn't be suitable for her band on her solo debut. In stark contrast to her work with Throwing Muses, Hips and Makers is almost entirely acoustic.
