Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Josephine Foster (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Locust
• ASIN: B000EMSY34
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,136 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

For her third solo album, Josephine Foster went for something simple, but extremely strange. Basically, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing consists of renditions of 19th century art songs, with Brian Goodman's acid electric guitar providing the X factor. Foster has selected pages by Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms, which she sings in German, in typical lieder fashion (acute vibrato included), accompanying herself soberly at the acoustic guitar. Upon hearing the first few seconds of "An die Musik," the first track, you cannot help but wonder if you have put the right disc in the CD player -- is this a reissue of some old wax recordings miraculously restored? -- at which point the electric licks kick in and things take an unmistakable contemporary feel. Goodman seems to operate on his own level, weaving acid lines in and out of the songs, often with little relation to them. The contrast is downright shocking at first and remains disquieting for the first four songs. By the fifth track, "Wehmut," Foster changes her approach: an old piano replaces the acoustic guitar, while amateur harmonica and other miscellaneous instruments create something much closer to the free folk aesthetics some listeners are probably expecting from this album. The longest piece by far, "Auf Einer Burg" goes further in that direction, retaining only the ghost of Schumann's original melody, obscured by reverb and drenched in multi-tracked psychedelic guitar improvisations. The dislocation felt in the earlier tracks is dispelled in this case, which, paradoxically, makes this piece the "saner" one of the bunch and also the least effective. "N he Des Geliebten" comes back to the arrangements of the first few songs, closing the album on a more positive note. Some fans of Foster will argue that her two previous solo albums hinted at something like this -- Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You had a certain antiquated quality to it -- but nothing can really prepare you for A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. People who make up lists of "weird albums" will most likely take a shine to this one, but don't look at it as a novelty record; it has unique charm and can unexpectedly grow on you. ~ Fran ois Couture, Rovi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A haunting masterpiece, July 7, 2006

By 

J. R. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Audio CD)

"Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" is easily the album of the year. It takes a few listens for this unsettling neo-folk album to click, but once it does, it quickly hits you as one of the most innovative albums in a long time.

Here, Foster covers seven German folk songs, which might sound dull merely from description - what invigorates the album is the electric guitar blazing away sorrowfully behind Foster's acoustic strums and her hypnotic warbling. But the album is never morose: mystery and sometimes joy creep into the songs despite the superficially disciplined and balanced nature of the album.

I can't wait to see what Josephine Foster does next. Highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars Defies All Expectations Again., September 30, 2007

By 

William J. Walker "Billyjay" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Audio CD)

Josephine Foster's previous album, the wonderful "Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You", was compared by many to Joanna Newsom's "The Milk-Eyed Mender" so anyone expecting a "Ys" like leap from obscurity into the widespread critical acclaim and comparative commercial success will have been somewhat 'thrown' by her decision to record an album of German folk balladry.

I bought this album having been completely bowled over by her previous record but it certainly isn't a case of 'more of the same'. Here, the gently crooning warble, and spare acoustic instrumentation, is countered and, occasionally, augmented by the dark gritty soloing and fuzzy chords of Brian Goodman's electric guitar.

It is an album of contrasts. The most gently presented song "Wehmut" is followed by the 11 minute 'Auf Einer Burg' whose growling raw of electric noise(brings to mind Sonic Youth) threatens to overpower the balance that exists on the rest of the album.

I would say that this is a very experimental record and while it is (very)unlikely to appeal everyone, it does contain passages of great beauty and power, so if you are looking for something truly, truly different, and any of the above piques your interest, all I can say is, give it a try.