Indoor Universe

Birdman Records

Frazer is an elegant chanteuse, a torch singer in indie rock garb with a voice of an angel. 

To be honest, she's more of a western-folkie than an indie rocker, best known for her work performing in Tarnation, a gig she hung up in '98 after three acclaimed CDs.

On this one, she brings three distinct styles to the table. Most of the CD is dedicated to fun-lovin' love songs like "This is a Song," "Think of Me" "Not So Bad, But Not So Good," brisk tumble-about acoustic shufflers, happily bouncing melody off accordion, off keyboards, off lilting rhythms and Frazer's sweet voice. These simple pop songs place her alongside some of today's strongest songwriters including Aimee Mann, as well heroes of yesterday like Edie Brickell and Suzanne Vega.

Just as embracing are the ballads, like the chiming, "Gone," and the haunting "We Met by the Love Lies Bleeding." Frazer belts them out like a latter-day Linda Ronstadt or Patsy Cline, complete with lush Nelson Riddle-esque orchestration.

Finally, there's her bosso-western face -- Frazer in black bolero hat and veils on the opener "Stay As You Are" and the dramatic, noir-ish "Deep Was the Night." They make you want to stomp your black stiletto heels.

The contrast between the three styles are interwoven by Frazer's shimmering, sincere voice. This is music you listen to when you've put away those dirty rock and roll records for the evening and want to get lost in something sonically broader, lyrically grounded and altogether mesmerizing.