Jennie Arnau “ Mt. Pleasant” (Spectra Records 2007)

Strong set and performance deliver album well worth checking out

Jennie Arnau is a South Carolina native who moved to New York to nurture her music. At first glance this album has a strong flavour of the West Coast with its harmonies and guitar licks. Look again and there’s the whiff of the South with barrel house piano and the distinct vocals.

‘You’re not alone’ has all these. Then there is the dense guitar and dark tones of ‘Who will come with me’ an indie anthem leavened by Hammond organ and a vocal that could be Siouxie Sioux in her Banshees pomp. ‘Holidays’ is a confessional where the vocals recall Natalie Merchant. Etc. etc.

As the cd continues the listener gets a sense that each track is an exploration of a different style, a magpie’s album. This could lead to a sense of fracture but the whole is maintained by excellent, consistent production (Trina Shoemaker) which gives the album shape and identity.

There is a sense that the cd dips in the middle; Margaret and Dustbowl days being slightly overwrought but it is soon on track again with the poppy ‘To live without love’ and the upbeat ‘Bottle Rocket’ and closes with three killers ‘Hit the Ground’ – sharp guitars and widescreen sounds, ‘Hang the Moon’ – sultry vocals and dripping piano and strings and the bonus track ‘Naked’ – complex rhythms and killer chorus and harmonies.

Date review added:  Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Reviewer:  keith hargreaves
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Related web link:  artists website