FOLLOW THAT FIRE is proof that artists can still reach out
to a new audience even with nineteen years-experience and nine albums in the
bank. The latest record from Canadian singer-songwriter Lynn Jackson is a lovely
textured alluring release successful in creating a sense of well-being. It has
been released on the Busted Flat record label, which has been responsible for
some fine Canadian exported music in recent years. It may grow the
international awareness of an artist adept at taking a primarily folk song base
before dressing them up in a cultured pop and sensual soulful coating. All ten
tracks are original offerings from the mainly solo pen of Lynn and are brimming
with messages ranging from the inspiration of the road to taking a pensive view
on the plight of an artistic journey.
While the record generally meanders through the tranquil waters
of lucid folk, there is one tremendous jolt in the first half with a song reverberating
in its grim effect. ‘Alice’ evolves
as a spicy narrative tale, in true folk tradition heading for a gruesome and
total left field conclusion. It’s compulsive listening, not representative of
the album in general theme, but a track to forge a bind with the listener.
A further successful formula for making this album work is the
harnessing of a sophisticated soundtrack to provide the ideal canvas for Lynn’s
gorgeous vocals to flourish. Soft piano joins the usual stringed array in the
early stages of the album especially ‘Random
Breakdowns, False Starts & New Beginnings’. However, by the latter
stages the keys have taken the sound in a far more soulful direction as
exampled in ‘Meet Me in the City’ and
‘Night Come Down’. This comes to a pinnacle
in another of the album’s stand out tracks ‘Tossing
and Turning’. The vocal style is somewhat similar to Frazey Ford at this
stage, with hopefully some resemblance of the Be Good Tanyas being distinguished
praise. This standout piece unravels as a restless song in a restful setting.
Messages come across at their strongest in the opening and
closing tracks. Title number ‘Follow that
Fire’ gets proceedings under way in a suggestive and prompting way. Forty
odd minutes later ‘No Regrets’ brings
everything to a thoughtful close with self-explanatory sentiment and a catchy melody
adorning a dreamy number. Intermediary, you get further evidence of a perceived
theme with ‘Side of the Road’, while ‘Ghost’ and ‘Mystery Novels’ succeed in keeping the listener actively engaged
even away from the album’s true golden moments.
The gradually ascending feel to this album makes playing it in
its entirety a purposeful exercise and not one designed for the pick ‘n’ mix
digital world. It eventually rolls out as a record purely heart accessible and
head compatible. Lynn Jackson has clearly drawn on many aspects of her vast
experience to sculpture the delights of FOLLOW THAT FIRE and any ensuing success
is absolutely warranted.
www.lynnjackson.net
www.lynnjackson.net