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Album Reviews
Album review: Jessica 6 – See The Light (Peacefrog)
By Marc Samuels | Published on Thursday 12 May 2011
With the clear nods to the dance music of twenty years ago made by the (inevitably) New York-based trio on this sprightly debut album, it proves a surprise to see that it’s not released on DFA, as it almost feels like it should be. Indeed, kindred spirits Hercules And Love Affair are an obvious but valid reference point (and not least since Antony Hegarty contributes guest vocals here, on ‘Prisoner Of Love’), and fans of their two albums will find much to enjoy here.
Opening track ‘White Horse’ instantly reveals itself to be a modern disco anthem – effortlessly simple mid-tempo melancholy pop, like some fantasy modern day collaboration between Ewan Pearson and still-good Madonna. And whilst NY disco is clearly a key influence, the material is far from one-dimensional; the title track tries the kind of cross-genre pollination Santigold had some success with, whilst elsewhere there’s sultry balladry (including a gorgeous torch song in ‘Not Anymore’), Prince-style P-funk and, on ‘In The Heat’, the kind of euphoric, melodic house that you might hear Frankie Knuckles or Marshall Jefferson playing in the late 80s.
Named after a Logan’s Run character, the music here is all shot through with a cinematic moodiness that, along with Nomi Ruiz’s compelling voice, helps elevate the whole thing from potentially mediocre to genuinely memorable. MS
Physical release: 6 Jun
