The gossamer vocals of Paula Frazer grace Tarnation like some ashen Appalachian spirit that hovers over pastoral melodies. Her old-timey, yodel-inspired inflections and wispy, watery singing are accompanied by the down-tempo rhythms of a rustic backline, and much like those of 4AD's early artist roster, Tarnation's songs carry the artistic weight of the now-defunct English label. However, the band managed to inject its own signature style of Alt Country way before that tired label w...  [+]