Jenny Conlee with Steve Drizos, French Kayaking Music (Jealous Butcher)

[WHITEWATER INSTRUMENTALS] Jenny Conlee is the queen of embellishments. She's served as an integral part of the Decemberists and the lesser-known Black Prairie since the inception of both, dressing the sound of each band with light touches of accordion, melodica and a mélange of baroque details rooted in a different century. Her first solo venture, French Kayaking Music, places that ornamentation at the forefront. It was written for a recent film about a French trio that kayaked the Colorado River in the late 1930s, and appropriately, this fine collection of meandering instrumentals showcases a concise unity that flows from one song to the next. Somber bouts of piano and accordion, laid down with the help of Conlee's husband, Steve Drizos, anchor much of the brief album, but they don't define it. Whereas "Rapids" features intertwining lines of dancing piano, "Back in France" and "Lake Powell" build on dapples of electric guitar. Meanwhile, "Melon Stand," with its brushed percussion and nimble shuffle, could easily double as the soundtrack to a French bazaar—if only in your head. The images the compositions conjure up are all romantic and inspired, regardless if you're watching the accompanying film or simply driving toward the coast. BRANDON WIDDER.

"Voyagers Without Trace" Teaser Trailer from FrenchKayakFilm on Vimeo.

SEE IT: Jenny Conlee and Steve Drizos play Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., with Blue Cranes, on Sunday, Nov. 1. 8 pm. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 21+.

Willamette Week