Maurice Hope – May 9, 2016 at 06:27AM
Tags:_AMERICANA
JENNY GILLESPIE —CURE FOR DREAMING (Narooma Records)
Springfield, Illinois–born singer-songwriter Jenny Gillespie recorded her latest album in LA and was joined for the occasion by a strong set of players in Paul Bryan, Jay Bellerose (drums, Chris Bruce, Gerry Leonard (guitar) and pedal steel guitar ace Greg Leisz. One could not want for better company. With Gillespie’s innovative writing and vocals the scene was set for them to create something special. Cure For Dreaming combines Americana with hints of the 1970s, and vocalists Minnie Riperton and even some Joni Mitchell as hints of jazz creep in.
With most tracks more artful and beautifully exploratory her work tends to be more a work of art than of the kind to place a skip in your step. Though not at all dark and mysterious Gillespie’s vocals tend to be more wistful than outright joyous or powered by biting commentary. Formerly the long time literature editor of children’s Cricketer magazine Gillespie threw herself into performing and recording in 2010, and already has a handful of well-received albums to her name. Among which studied poetry ; going for her MFA in Poetry at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina and she has also resided in a number of places in her quest to become a better writer, performer and recording artist.
Among those easiest accessed I would go for “Involuntary Sway” as a little more urgency is displayed and with steel guitar nicely fitting in the mix “Last Mystery Train”. But most impressive song on the record by far “Pain Travel (Chakra Huckster)” opens a door that previously had been little more than ajar. It speaks of walking the boardwalk in Venice and how pain travels, and how it will get lost in all the hearts of your friends. Shame the production wasn’t like this throughout the album, because she has a wonderful voice and is a fine songwriter and this is the only time it gets to assert itself with real grandiose.
Maurice Hope
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