To vaguely hope that Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power is going to someday return to her boozy, bluesy days of yore seems a rather pointless exercise, and yet in some quarters such nostalgia persists. Far more productive it seems would be to look at where Marshall is now, and how her ninth album Sun reflects that. Here's a word: together. 

Cat Power's first album of all new material in six years--six years that were hardly a walk in the park, given well-documented travails both financial and emotional--is a remarkably accomplished, confident affair, a "rebirth", the singer has called it. Self-produced in a home-built studio in Malibu and other locations, it's musically got a lighter touch, but self-empowerment to spare, on tracks like the pretty "Human Being" which intones "you've got a right to anything", and "Always on My Own" a declaration of independence which bears traces of the smoky Chan of old, while earlier single "Ruin" is a sparkling, affable rocker. 

It's mostly been thumbs-up from the professionals, with Metacritic currently awarding an impressive score of 79. Here's excerpts of some of what put it there: 

BBC Music: Sun remains a brave and adventurous change in direction, but in not playing to her strengths and focusing on the minutiae instead of the bigger picture, Marshall is shorn of the intangible magic and emotional force she can summon at her best.

Entertainment Weekly: Marshall's not a victim. And she's never sounded more confident or in control than she does on Sun, her ninth album.

Dusted: For the first time in Marshall’s career, lighter equals better. One imagines that this casual quality might be a really subtle and satisfying “fuck you” to the people who wish to pathologize her.

The Fly: At its peak, ‘Sun’ reaches greatness, specifically with both ‘Manhattan’ and the 11-minute opus ‘Nothin’ But Time’ (featuring Iggy Pop), which count easily amongst some of the best material she’s ever penned. It’s good to have you back, Chan.

Indeed. And see if you don't agree. Discover the return of Cat Power, on Sun.