published: 31 /
10 /
2013
Label:
Talitres
Format: CD
Fine Gothic-sounding and PJ Harvey-influenced fourth album from Californian singer-songwriter, Emily Jane White
Review
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 Beloved
2
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/emilyjanewhit
http://www.emilyjanewhite.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Ja
http://www.bandsintown.com/EmilyJaneWh
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/