Blog: PopMatters

Good voice + good songs + lousy production = ho-hum. "Lo-fi" is a term designed for records like this. Possessed of an expressive if not especially powerful voice, Kate Maki sings tunes that evoke heartbreak, longing and disappointment-not necessarily in that order-to the accompaniment of a range of instrumental sounds. Apart from the expected guitars and piano, there are contributions from accordion and organ, as well as harmonized vocals on nearly every track. Despite the sonic variety, there is a thinness to the recording that...