Mitchell continues with the jazz-inspired compositions of the past two albums, but here she enlists the help of specifically jazz musicians (rather than rock musicians attempting to play in a jazz mode which she was apparently using for the past two albums). Most notable is bassist Jaco Pastorius, who complements Mitchell’s seeming free-forming vocal melodies to great effect. Together they create some lush, evocative soundscapes suggestive of the combination of melancholy and freedom inherent in the theme of the album.
There is a broad theme of travel and relationships throughout the album, inspired by a combination of Mitchell’s experiences touring and then travelling to escape a difficult breakup with drummer John Guerin. It reminded me of Roger Waters’ solo album The Pros And Cons Of Hitch-hiking, which blends together romance found on road-trips, road-trips taken with family, road-trips to escape heartbreak. That’s all here.
This is Mitchell back to her confessional, personal lyrics, discussing her addiction (another one grabbed by cocaine) and the healing process in Refuge Of The Roads. Strange Boy, while being notable in the history of pastimes for mentioning a skateboard, is about her other addiction, to doomed love affairs - “Just when I think he's foolish and childish, and I want him to be manly, I catch my fool and my child needing love and understanding”. The line “love, the strongest poison and medicine of all” sums her up quite well, decades ahead of Adele and Taylor Swift for songs about being a total mess in relationships. A sentiment echoed by Homer Simpson - "Mm, beer. The answer to, and the cause of, all of life's problems".
The title track, Hejira, has such a glorious mix of Pastorius’ bass and phased guitar from Mitchell that it gave me chills, one of the first tracks to do that in a long time. It’s also the heart of the album, the most deeply personal track about her relationship with Guerin.
I didn’t care too much for Court And Spark or The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, but here I think Mitchell’s ongoing loose jazzy compositions meet with the musicians that can support them, as well as a more coherent personal theme like there was with Blue, and so it came together so much more for me.
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