Neko Case Whips Up A “Cyclone”

First studio album since 2006.

By Blurt Staff

Songbird Neko Case's new album Middle Cyclone arrives on March 3 courtesy Anti-, and it's been awhile, to say the least, since we've had new studio material from the Tucson tornado. Her last album Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, came out way back in 2006, although it goes without saying that she got a lot of mileage out of it as the record did gangbusters in year-end polls that year (including BLURT precursor Harp magazine), additionally earning Case" Female Artist of the Year" honors from the PLUG Independent Music Awards.

Here's the scoop from the Case camp:

'Middle Cyclone' was produced by Case with Darryl Neudorf and recorded in Tucson, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Vermont.  It features Case backed by her core band - guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, backing vocalist Kelly Hogan, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, and drummer Barry Mirochnick - along with numerous guests including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand, among others. In addition to twelve new songs written by Case, 'Middle Cyclone' includes covers of "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" by Sparks, and "Don't Forget Me" by Harry Nilsson. 

Track listing:

1.  This Tornado Loves You

2.  The Next Time You Say Forever

3.  People Got A Lotta Nerve

4.  Polar Nettles

5.  Vengeance Is Sleeping

6.  Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth

7.  Middle Cyclone

8.  Fever

9.  Magpie To The Morning

10. I'm An Animal

11. Prison Girls

12. Don't Forget Me

13. The Pharaohs

14. Red Tide

15. Marais La Nuit