Far will go a long way in establishing this 29-year old Soviet-born, New York pianist as one of the best songwriters around right now. Spektor's wide range and adventurous songwriting make it easy to compare her to Joni Mitchell and Ani DiFranco.
The lilting piano chords on "Folding Chair" support the breezy charm of this summer song. "I've been waiting on this beach for years for the salty water to cover up my ears," sings Spektor.
But Spektor can just as easily provoke serious, pensive moods. She does so with authority on "Laughing With," which uses halting, resonant keyboard work to support Spektor's ruminations about the nature of human hope in times of crisis.
"No one's laughing at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake," she sings.
Far is one of 2009's must-hear albums.