Martha Wainwright is beginning again. The beguiling performer and songwriter returns withLove Will Be Reborn,out in August. Not since 2012sCome Home to Mamahas a Martha Wainwright record been so full of original written material. Wainwrights fifth studio album follows recent years of loneliness and clarity in search of optimism and joy. Wainwright wrote the first songand what would become the title track of the record a few years ago. It was a very dark time, she says, but the positivity and luminosity of Love Will Be Reborn signalled what was to come. The song simply poured out of her. Much of Wainwrights song writing since 2016sGoodnight Cityfelt too raw. There were several years where I picked up the guitar, and I was so, so sad and depressing. I would just put it down because I was terrible. Before writing it out, or writing through it for catharsis, Wainwright had to live it. Album opener Middle of the Lake reinforces Wainwrights path forward as she sings over voltaic chords and percussion, I sing my songs of love and pain / Winds of change or simply singing, Im singing in the rain. Her work never shies away from an existential throbbing wound. There are a couple major subjects on the record. From what I can tell, theres really dark and then light, she says, It really is reflective of a very difficult period of divorce. Then, after that, its meeting somebody new and amazing. And so you hear certain songs about this new love.1. Middle of the Lake 2. Getting Older3. Love Will Be Reborn4. Being Right5. Report Card6. Body and Soul7. Hole In My Heart8. Justice9. Sometimes10. Rainbow11. Falaise de Malais