While the good ol’ USA may have plenty to be jealous of when it comes to the UK (slow, romantic albeit rainy walks along bridges, Prince Harry and the London Eye), the commonwealth can add one more thing to that list: They got Rachel Zeffira’s solo debut, “The Deserters,” first. And to think Zeffira is a Canadian! Michigan is attached to her country of origin, so what gives? Anyway, enough sour grapes, let’s get to the good stuff.

Zeffira, who everyone knows best as one half of the band Cat’s Eyes (with Faris Badwan of The Horrors), has struck out on her own to produce a beautifully crafted album – one that pulls at your heartstrings and leaves the listeners wistfully and thoughtfully losing themselves to daydreams. Zeffira’s simplistic melodies are so nuanced and give a subtly to “The Deserters” that few albums see these days. Rather than be deliberate in her timing and execution, each track feels as though Zeffira wandered through it, allowing the melody to carry her vocals to heights.

On the title track, Zeffira displays her classically trained piano skills as well as her woeful, operatic voice. “Amongst those friends that you knew/All gave the word/All deserters now,” Zeffira sings spookily at the track’s end, setting the stage for the wispy, whimsical slow tide that the album will become as well as, perhaps, giving a nod to critics sighs about her being involved with the much more rough and tumble Badwan and being very tight lipped about her personal life.

On “Front Door,” Zeffira hums “He’s the one I’ve waited for/He’s worth waiting for,” giving the album its first love song, done very prettily and melodically. “Break The Spell” gives listeners a bit more uptempo, almost echoing 70s disco in some of the hilts as well as in Zeffira’s speedier lyrics. “Star” showcases her stunning, ethereal soprano, which gently fades in and out of Zeffira’s whispered vocals.

While the minimalist approach is a good one for Zeffira, it has to be said that some tracks, like “Letters From Tokyo” and the album’s closer “Goodbye Divine,” give off the residue of a movie soundtrack. Think “Lord of the Rings” or “Chronicles of Narnia.” While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can distract from the goal – introducing oneself to new listeners. Remember, Zeffira is a Canadian living in London and basically is a stranger to most on this side of the Atlantic. Still, it’s impressive to know a musician plays much of their own instruments on record and barely uses the help of arrangers and the like. Hopefully, with Zeffira’s talent and ability to mix with the rock and classical crowds, she’ll be able to gain some momentum and bridge the gap between continents.