Chan Marshall, the reluctant indie rocker behind Cat Power, has completed work on a new album of originals, titled You Are Free and due on February 18th. It will be her first collection of new songs since 1998's Moon Pix.

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl, both avowed Cat Power fans, guest on the record -- Vedder behind the mike for Marshall's plaintive "Evolution" and Grohl at the drum kit. The three were brought together by producer Adam Kasper, who worked on the most recent Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters records (Riot Act and One by One, respectively) as well as You Are Free.

Included along with the twelve new songs on Free are covers of folk singer Michael Hurley's "Werewolf" and bluesman John Lee Hooker's "Keep On Runnin'."

Marshall's last release was 2000's precisely-titled The Covers Record, for which she took on classics by the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the Velvet Underground, among others.

AUGUSTIN SEDGEWICK
(November 12, 2002)