Kindred
Artist: Jenny Gillespie
Label: CD Baby

Jenny Gillespie, in the EPK for her new record, Kindred, explains that her songs are constructed from remembered dream worlds. All I can say in response to this is that I'd love to have some of the dreams she's having! This is beautiful, 80's influenced synthetic pop. Pop which manages, somehow to sound both organic and richly textured with found and electronic sounds. All of this is topped off with Jenny's otherworldly lead vocals and intricately detailed and developed songwriting structures, making this one of my favourite records of 2010.

The PR stuff recommends this record if you like Joni Mitchell or the Cocteau Twins, and I find it hard to disagree with this. “Swimming in Amber” manages to have both a clear structure and an ethereal sense to it which few artists these days can achieve. This continues throughout the album, with “In the Garden”'s driving rhythms and strong chorus supported by a smorgasboard of rhythmical pips and squeaks, underpinned by a wonderfully undulating bass riff.

But it's when we reach “Secret Passageway” that we hit paydirt. This song is immense, beautiful, creative, takes you on a journey melodically and harmonically, and swaps time signatures and tempos like there's no tomorrow, whiilst always maintaining a smooth, again, ethereal texture.

This sense of wonderment and joy which was coaxed out of me continues with the rest of the album. This is not “pop” in its truest sense. In order to get the most out of it, concentrated listening will yield layer upon layer of musicality and inspiration. But, in a music scene in which innovation and true pioneering are often so sadly lacking, to listen to a record such as Kindred is a real treat.

It is clear that Jenny Gillespie is an important artist to be treasured. We can only hope that more of us have the joy of entering into her world of creativity in the months and years to come.

Haydon Spenceley