Music has been a constant source of solace for me over the years but perhaps it's no exaggeration to say that for Canadian singer-song writer Christa Couture it has been nothing less than a life saver.
In her previous three albums she has sung of battling with cancer from the age of 11 and about the deaths of both her young children. One of her legs has been amputated but she's still standing and calls herself a "cyborg chanteuse".
Her fourth album deals with the aftermath of separation and a divorce, subjects that for her are relatively light in comparison with what went before. There is heartache but, as she put it in a recent interview, since both parties are still alive there's no real excuse for wailing and grieving.
This explains why the twelve songs on this album are focused on reasons why it's better to be cheerful than tearful. Knowing her back story this makes perfect sense but without this context, glossing over the pain in this manner sounds a bit odd.
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In Zookeeper marital counseling is jokingly equated to tending for wild animals while the jaunty manner in which she sings "We're all going to hit rock bottom now and then" on When It Gets Dark Again turns potential despair into a sing along ditty.
You have to admire Couture's resilience and her ability to look on the bright side but, dare I say it, a couple of slower, sad songs would have felt more real.
Still, I guess music as therapy comes in all forms and I suppose there are listeners out there who will welcome a break-up album with catchy folk pop songs you can do your housework to.
Christa Couture's website
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