It was six years ago when the music of Jess Klein first
crossed my path, although a little research stretches her carer back a lot
further. Activity from her has been patchy since attending back-to-back gigs in
Birmingham in 2013-14, but this is set to change this year with a brand new
album and accompanying UK tour. BACK TO MY GREEN takes her back catalogue into
double figures and is a chance to re-energise a European presence for this
American singer-songwriter. The anticipated release date on the cusp of a Northern
Hemisphere spring is symbolic to the feel of this album, which sees Jess in
rejuvenated form following a series of life changing episodes including
re-locating from the increasingly stuffy confines of Austin Texas to the more
relaxed surroundings of Hillsborough North Carolina.
The freshness sweeping across this album begins with a
bright and breezy cover and takes root right from the first track. Starting
with the opening number can appear a little structural, but it is a toss up to
whether the vibes of ‘In Dreams’ best
reflect the record rather than the standout track ‘New Thanksgiving Feast’. The latter ingrained instant appeal from
the initial plays before the texture of the record took hold, but eventually
the soulful, heading nodding-foot tapping tones of the opener made this a
justifiable first port of call.
This first track acts as the only co-write on the album and
sees Jess hook up with North Carolina stalwart Jonathan Byrd, a popular figure
on the UK touring circuit. Elsewhere, Jess’s solo pursuit of writing something
meaningful and accessible strikes several chords, probably no darker than the political-enviro
protest piece ‘Blair Mountain’, best
summed up in the line ‘they stole the mountain top’.
Throughout an optimum playing time of ten tracks in forty
minutes, the production steering ensures the feel rarely drifts from a zone
that would have attracted mainstream play in simpler times. Yet a streak of lucid
clarity coupled with a soul-lite coating belies a deep inner strength to the
writing. Using the term ‘pop-Americana’ would have a lot more credence with
this album under its wing.
One key to unlocking this album could lie with the pivotal
placing of the title song, the idyllically titled ‘Back to My Green’. While
being a strong reflective track at the very heart of the record, it is somewhat
overshadowed by the aforementioned ‘New
Thanksgiving Feast’, which immediately follows it. Exceeding five minutes
in length, underpinned by a gentler acoustic sound away from the plusher parts
of the record and laden with lyrics reaching out to important issues, leads
this song into epic territory and it blossoms at this junction. Press release
info indicates the song as a ‘tribute to Native American pipeline protestors’,
but interpretation from lyrical references and content can relate to many
issues needing addressing in the current climate.
You should now be getting the picture that this album
frequently juxtaposes light and dark.
Back adopting a chronological approach to assessing this
album brings you to the final four tracks. Together as a quartet they present an
alternative feel to what surfaces from the first half. ‘Gates of Hell’ leads off this segment of the record and rolls out
as a folk story-like song. The sound drifts into a softer tenderer zone for ‘4 the Girlz’, minimalist in both
production feel and abbreviated title, though there are moments when the song
raises its tempo. ‘Kid’ is a song
struggling to make an impact, maybe suffering from the strength of the stronger
numbers that precede it rather than bearing inadequacies. ‘I Hear Love’ acts as the archetypal closer, choosing a softer exit
rather than a rousing finale, but fits in more with the overall effect of the
record.
BACK TO MY GREEN is a record to get Jess Klein back into the
recording groove and ensure a natural talent does not lie too dormant. It
contains numerous highs amongst a steady base to ensure the album never loses
its listener’s interest. Ultimately, this album will forge a clear path to many
welcoming ears.
www.jessklein.com
