Neko Case's last album, 2006's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, achieved that rare plateau where critical acclaim meets commercial success. Along with her work in pop darlings The New Pornographers, Neko's string of extraordinary releases has brought her that iconic status where an artist can forge an uncommonly deep and meaningful bond with her audience. Neko's many fans hang on her impressionistic lyrics, classic pop harmonics, and luxurious voice, and her new album, Middle Cyclone, revels in all three. With Neko's indefatigable touring band (guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, vocalist Kelly Hogan, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse and drummer Barry Mirochnick) building the bedrock of the tracks, Case was able to bring in a collection of friends and fellow travelers including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand. From the ragtag "piano orchestra" that drives the Phil Spector majesty of "Don't Forget Me," (one of two carefully conceived covers on the album) to the guitar/vocal intimacy of "Middle Cyclone," the new album represents both a continuation and a profound leap for Neko Case - the fusing of her longterm themes of nature vs. man into a shining lyrical broadsword, like the one she wields on the extraordinary album cover.