A voice tuned to seduce
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday November 28, 2009
JESS KLEINBound to Love (UFO)It doesn't always make sense why one artist connects with you and another, seemingly much the same in style and sound, moves right past you. You can intellectualise about music all you like but sometimes you just have to accept that you are a sucker for a jangly guitar, or a patsy for a major to minor chord progression; someone easily bitten by a big booming chorus with a drilled-into-your-head hook.That's a long way of saying that some people will hear Jess Klein and think she's a very good rootsy singer-songwriter, which is true, and wonder why I'm making a fuss, particularly as they'll have to go online to buy this from the US.They will hear her way with a relaxed country rock groove such as I Just Want to Know Your Name or a more Tom Petty-ish take on the same style in It Will Come to Me and nod appreciatively at the craft. They will enjoy the soul-influenced southern rock of Before I Go, with its choir-stalls melody and Dylan-esque organ, and the more white gospel-influenced title track, with its touch of melancholy among affirmations of succumbing to love and think, yep, very nice tunes.They may also enjoy the slightly off-kilter scoot of When the Time Comes, with its brassy vibrancy and joyful declaration of "I'm free, nothing is expected of me", and the swinging movement of Travellin' Woman, with its Chicago-bluesy sassiness, and get off on the fun to be had.But what really kicks, what has finally sunk in after listening to and really loving three previous albums by this recently transplanted-to-Texas New Yorker, is that Klein has the kind of voice that gets to me. A little deeper than average, it is capable of high-stepping but is at its best in the emotional lowlands, holding memories of the church but very much in touch with more earthly desires. It carries a woman's experiences rather than a girl's expectations €” and is very much a voice made for country soul and getting into my head.And on Bound to Love, that voice has its way with you over and over, culminating in taking something as completely traditional as Fool (one of those weepy pedal steels, a melody to stay past the last drink of the night and a sad-eyed male voice in response) and making it irresistible. For me at least. Maybe for you too.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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