reviews
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
This week: French psychological drama The Past offers both tension and tenderness; Sky Ferreira offers darkness and fun; and Dolly Parton offers wit and Kenny Rogers.
THE JEZABELS The Brink MGM 2014 is off to a strong start in terms of lady-led releases: Warpaint, Dum Dum Girls, and now The Jezabels have each brought out impressive albums that show off these women’s serious rock chops. On The Brink our very own Jezabels bring a new sound into their production, with Heather Shannon on keys riding the indie-synth wave, along with the rest of today’s indie-poppers. This new album serves as a new chance for The Jezabels to bring their strengths to the synth-pop table: namely, frontman Hayley Mary and her broad vocal range, and their ability to create a growing sense of tension (case in point: the brooding Psychotherapy).
★★★★
TRACK LISTING 1. The Brink
7. The End
2. Time To Dance
8. Got Velvet
3. Look Of Love
9. Psychotherapy
4. Beat To Beat
10. All You Need
5. Angels Of Fire
11. Marianne
Like Mary’s vocals, each song, and the album as whole, swells and dives between soft and loud, up- and down-tempo, light and dark. The opener and title track is moody and atmospheric, and one of the early highlights of an album tinged by rock chords and big choruses. Time To Dance adds a melodic edge to winsome lyrics, while lead single The End has managed to worm its way into our collective ears since its October release. It’s got the most light and shadow about it in the slow-building verses, before the smack of energy and warmth in the chorus. Piano-based bonus track Marianne is slow-burning and caps off an album that proves that The Jezabels remain one of our biggest indie-pop exports. Hannah Story
6. No Country THE MUSIC • 29TH JANUARY 2014 • 31