Jess McAllister - Painted Face EP (Mill Records)
Jess McAllister - Painted Faces |
Release Date: 3rd February 2014
Oh the irony! Here I am, just a
few miles from Plymouth and actively trying to seek out exciting new local
talent. Meanwhile, Jess McAllister is an extremely exciting local talent that
I've never heard of who, thanks to a PR company based in Cleveland, I am now acutely
aware of. Now it's my turn to make you aware of her talent - it's for your own
good. The first clue to Jess' talents come from the brilliantly apt artwork on
this release which, on the one hand, show her to be a meek, introverted
hippyish type. On the other hand, McAllister can be seen as a feisty, fearless
punk with a defiant lip curl and an unpredictable nature. Opening track 'Take A
Walk' is a beautifully rippling piano piece that is part Regina Spektor and
another, larger part Laura Hocking & The Long Goodbye (look her up if you
haven't heard of her). The piano is Jess' weapon of choice and she uses it in
the most enthralling and beguiling way in combination with her voice which is
somewhere between the Lily Allen's and Kate Nash's of this world and something
altogether more lyrical and melodic. Title track, 'Painted Faces', has more
attitude and a little more instrumentation but it's the personality and will of
our heroine that shines through, whatever the tune.
The haunting vocal harmonies at the very
beginning of 'Shadows In The Night' followed by the Ludovico Einaudi-esqu piano
riff is simply sumptuous and makes you want to sink deeper and deeper in to the
music like a bath full of warm honey. Then again, final track 'Never Mind
Buying Time' takes that Kate Nash energy, mixes in the Spektor unhinged-ness
and then slaps on a huge layer of defiant triumphalism that should make this an
anthem for those waiting for the next Laura Marling to come along. Jess
McAllister is a prodigious talent right on my doorstep and I cannot tell you
just how much that excites me....well, I guess I have just told you how much in
this 500-odd word review but you get my point. Get yourself out to one of her
gigs, buy yourself a large glass of something warming (port or brandy I'd
suggest), sit back amongst the candle light and let this gorgeous music wash
over you. You can thank me later.
More information: http://jessmcallister.co.uk/
Live Dates:
25th January - Live on BBC Introducing Devon, Plymouth
13th February - B-Bar, Plymouth
17th February - Songsmiths Night @ Mr Wolfs, Bristol
18th February - The Abbey, Kentish Town
19th February - The Dublin Castle, Camden
28th February - The Barrel House, Totnes
1st March - Real Food Cafe, Exeter