THE ABSENT AND THE DISTANT

"Repp is clearly from the Cat Power school of emotional songcraft, seeing that most of this release (her 3rd) sees her banging sparse chords on an old piano and howling haunting sentiments over the top. Her voice is pitched somewhere between Ms. Power herself and Mimi Parker from Low, and it is certainly the most effective instrument on this album. Most of the songs cover the spectrum of emotions felt for past lovers (hence the title), with almost every utterance cracking with anger and sadness. She clearly means it, and it makes this record rather arresting at times given that someone is willing to give such a warts 'n' all (if sometimes cryptic) peak into their romantic soul. In this regard Repp most closely resembles Bill Callahan (smog) in that her songs are sparse but interesting, her voice brutal but honest and that she's emotive without being sickeningly over-sincere."