It's been said that cats always land on their feet and Cat Power is no exception.

Chan Marshall, who has performed under the Cat Power moniker since her recording debut in 1995, has overcome a well documented battle with alcohol abuse to return to live performance.

Her resolution for 2010 is a sensible one.

"I've started being more nice to my health, which is a good thing," Marshall said, from her home in California where she has lived since late 2008.

"Californian people are very advanced with organic food - that mentality of Californian people - I'm finding myself casually noticing my health a lot more."

Marhsall's dreamy folk-pop albums like The Greatest and You Are Free have endeared the elegant songstress to legions of fans around the world and she has returned to Australia in 2010 to rediscover her audiences here.

In fact, Marshall's relationship with Australia goes back many years. 

Not only does her current touring band, Delta Blues, include Dirty Three member Jim White, but in 1998 she recorded an album in Melbourne, Moon Pix.

"I've always considered Australia to be close to my heart - a place I could always live," Marshall admitted.  

"But I've never moved there so it sounds trite to even say that."

While the timeless sound of Marshall's albums have captivated many, the songwriter still feels at odds with the idea of recording - she doesn't even listen to her early albums

"I feel like the only record I wanted to make was Moon Pix... oh, and Jukebox," Marshall explained.
"I never wanted to make records (in the beginning) - I feel like what I wanted to do was see the world and experience different societies. 

"If I could have just toured without making a record, I think I would have been fine with that. 

"Touring gave me the opportunity to enhance my learning experiences."

Marshall has been locking herself away in a Californian studio, writing and recording a new album on her own.

But the singer finds it an unnatural process.

"Once a song is recorded, it's taken for granted that that's what the song sounds like," Marshall said. 

"I feel like that's not true. Once you've played the song a thousand times, your life experiences affect the way you perform the song and the way the song actually grows and lives. 

"The recording should actually come after - it just seems weird that you record the song and then play it afterwards."

Marshall records all of her albums live in the studio and vehemently avoids perfection in the final takes.

But ultimately, it's the concept of recording that the singer is uncomfortable with.

"I don't know how to feel good about recording," Marshall said. 

"It's strange - it's like trapping ghosts. It's like math. Or trapping the meaning of life. 

"That doesn't really feel right."