Jenn Grant "Echoes" (Six Shooter, 2009)

Tasteful second from Nova Scotian songwriter

Jenn Grant is a coming voice on the evidence of this beautifully packaged and produced CD. A collection of deftly composed vignettes and a couple of choice covers (Young’s 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' and Coward’s 'I’ll See You Again') create a lush sense of identity that carries on throughout the thirteen songs. Although all recorded live (according to the sleevenotes) the production is faultless as is the instrumentation, including such rarities as bass flute and bass clarinet!

It is this wide palette that prevents the album sliding into the morass of being ‘background music’. Repeated listens reveal layer upon layer of texture that lift the occasional slightness of the songs (‘Parachutes’ for example) onto another level. In the aforementioned ‘Parachutes’ the tinkling rock 'n' roll piano complimenting the doo wop chorus as the song veers from melancholy to joy and back again.

‘Once I was Your Woman’, at the centre of the album, provides an emotional and experimental peak with its rhythm shifts and dark musicality. After this we return to more traditional song structures but the album feels more mature. ‘Sailing by Silverships’ is a beautiful song, almost Kate Bush-like with its ‘Cloudbusting’ orchestration becoming a mantra pattern – lovely.

‘Fireflies’ – delicate harmonies and peaks and troughs. ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ fits perfectly with the hesitant, confident delivery, the spaces between the notes filling the song with a glorious richness.

A cracking album – investigate.

Date review added:  Sunday, May 03, 2009
Reviewer:  keith lovejoy
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Related web link:  artists site