September 24, 2008 – The cover art for Kira Lynn Cain’s debut, The Ideal Hunter, depicts the San Francisco-based chanteuse bearing an uncanny resemblance to 1940s actress Veronica Lake. That, along with the dark background and bright red block lettering of the album’s name, makes the artwork seem more like a film noir poster than a CD sleeve. The design choices make sense after listening to The Ideal Hunter, which begins with the haunting song “White as a Dove.” The track features eerie cello strokes layered with piano and an occasional, ominous drum beat lurking beneath Cain’s breathy vocals. The darkly orchestrated music paints a picture straight out of Hollywood’s Golden Age: smoky, late-night lounges populated with platinum blonds and men in satin suits.

The lyrics on The Ideal Hunter are often impossible to make out because of Cain’s unique stylings, but knowing precisely what words Cain is singing is less important than the overall mood she sets. Some tracks, such as “The Strange Light,” have moments that briefly shift the landscape from gritty black-and-white dramas to a solemn Western. But wherever Cain draws her inspiration, The Ideal Hunter would fit well as a soundtrack for the classic films her album art pays homage to.

NPR Music, 2008