I was enthusiastic about the first ESSIE JAIN album and I'm pleased to be able to recommend this second collection just as strongly. It had been available through Ba Da Bing in the US in the summer, but The Leaf Label have put in two extra tracks for worldwide release and they've embellished the package with new artwork by Luke Drozd (whose marks can also be seen on this year's PAUL MARSHALL album).
There are twelve songs. "Not Yours" and "I Remember It Just Like This" are the newly recorded additions. ESSIE JAIN's ethereal, confiding voice is still the star, but the whole mood is more outward facing and boisterous than "We Made This Ourselves". There are more musicians, and on a couple of tracks a whole band sound breaks through, where last year's material had more of a solo piano/guitar feel to it.
At first I was a little unsettled by the new mood. But why would any artist want to make the same album twice? There are, I suppose, people who want to buy the same album several times over, but it's obvious that ESSIE JAIN is not the kind of artist who would want to oblige by making clones. By adding a more adventurous spirit the long-term effect is that we have a more powerful album.
Thematically the songs are personal romances, with a strength that feels and expresses the fragile melancholy of "Goodbyes" and which follows through with the assertiveness of "Not Yours".This song, expressing a major theme of the whole album, declares "This is my life, not your life" in its slow, redoubtable piano waltz. "Goodbyes" (a real highlight) could reduce anyone to tears, but "Not Yours" would gently tug the broken hearted back from the edge.
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The confident emotional range is explored in several directions. by any means. "The Rights" is a KURT WEIL sort of song, assured and agreeably sleazy, with a sung "ha, ha, ha!" and some just-right clarinet. "Stop" is a slow jazz blues, sung in a broad sultry voice with upright bass and brushes on the drum kit. A long swaying chorus pleads "Can you make it, make it, make it stop". It's beautifully embellished with trumpet and there's a subtle line played on electric guitar.
"Weight Off Me" is a simple tune with a fine singable chorus. "You " should also be mentioned: its long, flowing melody, echoed with violins, has humour as well as tenderness: "IT doesn't matter if your Dad's a jerk, your Mum too. I'll hug you till it hurts ..."
There's no question that this is ESSIE JAIN. It's good to hear the development and I'm pleased to have heard rumours of a third release before very long. I don;t think I made them up.
www.essiejain.com
www.theleaflabel.com
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