Emily Jane White - Blood/Lines
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 31 / 10 / 2013
Label:
Talitres
Format: CD
intro
Fine Gothic-sounding and PJ Harvey-influenced fourth album from Californian singer-songwriter, Emily Jane White
It is not often that PJ Harvey is imitated, but on 'Blood/Lines' Emily Jane White performs a neat job in doing just that. Change the scenery from Dorset to California, but keep everything else in line and place. EJ's voice is probably one octave higher than PJ's. Thus you have a pretty good idea of the sound of this album. A firmly spoken songstress using almost similar vocal techniques, timing, phrasing and themes, EJ White may indeed be a blood relative of PJ's. Even her timbre automatically leads to this comparison. This remarkable resemblance, however, stands not in the way of a rather fine album. PJ unlike, it's unpolitical, and hence an LP from Sonoma, CA, USA, where they have vineyards rather than local park soap boxes. After the third song 'Keeley' you're likely to moderate those similarities to PJ Harvey but then, wham bam, the next song 'Thoroughbred' is the archetype of a jolly Polly tune. Emily Jane's singing perhaps comes from a classical training, as her outbursts prove no danger to civilization. 'Thoroughbred' just begs for airplay on Radio 2 and SKY. A waltzing, gothic operette it gently reminds one of the absence of new LPs by Kate Bush and PJ Harvey. Half sinister and eerie, half pastoral, most tracks have a smooth, gothic, blues sound. The closing track 'The Wolves' offers too much melodrama. Think Enya! At best, however, Emily Jane White uses her full vocal range against a backdrop of tickling. twangy riffs. 'Dandelion Daze' in particular is a soothing experience.
Track Listing:-
1 My Beloved2 Faster Than the Devil
3 Keeley
4 Thoroughbred
5 Wake
6 Dandelion Daze
7 Holiday Song
8 The Roses
9 The Wolves
10 Silence/Slain
11 Here It Lies
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/emilyjanewhiteofficialhttp://www.emilyjanewhite.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Jane_White
http://www.bandsintown.com/EmilyJaneWhite
https://twitter.com/emilyjanewhite1
Label Links:-
http://www.talitres.com/en/https://www.facebook.com/talitres.rds
https://twitter.com/talitres
https://instagram.com/talitres/
soundcloud
reviews |
They Moved in Shadow All Together (2016) |
Classically-influenced and gripping new album from experimental Californian singer-songwriter, which has come out on the excellent French label Talitres |
Ode to Sentience (2011) |
Victorian America (2010) |
Dark Undercoat (2008) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewRod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Marika Hackman - Big Sigh
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart