Mo Kenney - In My Dreams

by Malcolm Carter

published: 8 / 10 / 2015

Label: New Scotland Records
Format: CD

Canadian Mo Kenney’s second album expands on the pop/folk of her acclaimed and award-winning debut by introducing a rockier and, at times, more experimental sound

Review

Mo Kenney has been quoted as saying that her self-titled debut from 2012 had a foot in a couple of different genres, namely the pop and folk camps. Not surprisingly Kenney won awards for her debut covering both the pop and folk side of her music and, as her follow-up, ‘In My Dreams’, has already been out in other territories for some time that has also picked up or already been nominated for various awards. With ‘In My Dreams’ Kenney takes a rockier stance, not so much as to alienate those who loved that debut, but there’s certainly more of a rockier edge to some of the Canadian singer-songwriter's new songs. There are those of us that, although it pains to have to admit it, have not been as impressed with Aimee Mann’s recent output as we were with her earlier work. Although Kenney is far from a Mann impersonator vocally, or even lyrically, there are times when listening to ‘In My Dreams’ when Mann’s best work comes to mind. That’s really where any comparisons are going to stop, for while it’s a compliment to be compared to such talent Kenney really has, even as early as her second album, made a strong case for being in a class of her own. Joel Plaskett who also lends his considerable musical skills over a number of instruments and shares four co-writing credits here produced the album. Kenney wrote five of the songs single-handedly ,and the rest, bar one cover, she co-wrote. ‘Telephones’ the one song here that Kenney didn’t have a hand in writing, has been receiving the most attention so far. It’s obvious why as lyrically it’s smart, it’s one of those songs that are full of hooks and Kenney’s vocals are captivating. Lines such as “You used to make my Mondays Saturdays” and “You listen to techno/I hate that stuff” detail the breakdown of a relationship astutely, while the sing-along, jaunty melody belie the, at times, cutting lyrics such as “It never used to be cold sitting on your roof top/But now I feel the weather/Our fights have fucked our shelter”. But the fact is that every song on ‘In My Dreams’ is as strong as ‘Telephones’ and in many instances even stronger. The album opens with ‘I Faked It’, an atmospheric piece of work with biting lyrics, Kenney’s almost little-girl lost vocals cloaking those cutting words with “It was never you and me/When I said it was forever I was lying through my teeth”; as the opening shot it perfectly sets out Kenney’s vision for the album perfectly. That the second song begins with “Take me outside and blow my fucking head off with your eyes" just confirms that Kenney knows how to keep the listener's attention, but, even without her stinging lyrics, the tunes and arrangements Kenney and Plaskett surround those words with are stunning in their own right. ‘Take Me Outside’ has a last verse of “’Cause there’s booze in my veins and blood on the floor/And I don’t think my body can take anymore” before a choir (of amassed Kenney’s?) angelically sing the title while a distant, lone voice again repeats the request made in the first line of the song. Just that little touch…it’s spellbinding. There’s certainly more experimentation on this latest set of songs from Kenney compared to those on her debut. ‘Field Song’ has a dreamy, almost psychedelic feel that is one of the biggest surprises on the album. While not the most instantly appealing song on the album, the little percussive sounds, ghostly vocals and beautifully unsettling sensation that the song creates shows a new and fascinating side to Kenney. The following ‘Untouchable’ smoulders like no other song on the album, a soulful number that is worlds away from the poppier material such as ‘Telephones’ but that shows how Kenney has musically advanced since her debut and that she’s not afraid to mix such conflicting types of music within the confines of a single album. ‘Pretty Things’, sees a return to Kenney’s pop leanings and is again lyrically clever, the addition of melodica gives the song an unexpected lift about halfway through, the title track is another typical Kenney slice of intelligent pop, beautifully arranged, her vocals are particularly outstanding on the chorus. The ethereal quality captured in Kenney’s vocals on this track is one of the highlights on the album. ‘In My Dreams’ is even more impressive than Kenney’s debut of a few years ago, and the progression made in defining a sound of her own is apparent here. Where Kenney goes next musically is anybody’s guess, but given the advance she’s made in three short years and her obvious wiliness to try new sounds and take new directions, you can be certain that it’s going to be another inspiring experience.

Track Listing:-

1 I Faked It
2 Take Me Outside
3 Telephones
4 Mountains to the Mess
5 Field Song
6 Untouchable
7 Pretty Things
8 In My Dreams
9 Wind Will Blow
10 Dancing

Band Links:-

http://mokenney.com/international/
https://www.youtube.com/user/mokenneym
https://instagram.com/mookenney/
https://twitter.com/mo_kenney
https://www.facebook.com/mokenneymusic