Reviews Search

Jessica Bailiff, "Live on VPRO Radio"

Recorded just shortly after the release of her last, self-titled album,this 7" is a rare document of Jessica Bailiff's sound away from thestudio. Included are two songs available on her full-length recordings,a cover of "Come and Close My Eyes" by Flying Saucer Attack, and aversion of "Shadow," which was previously available only on Disc A ofthe Brain in the Wirecompilation.
Brainwashed
While her live sound is more bare compared to what shedoes inside the studio, Bailiff's siren-like voice and hypnotic guitarplaying is enchanting, sounding as though it's coming through the etherfrom some far away, and sometimes sad, place. What this 7" release mostexceptionally highlights is Bailiff's song-writing ability. She writeselegantly and fluidly, pacing her music perfectly, allowing her voiceto melt into her rhythmic guitar melodies with ease. Her style iscompletely her own, but not without sympathetic and inviting tones. Shecan make me believe that she's in the room with me, whispering to meand relating stories pulled from all over the world. There's never anelement out of place in her music and each one of these four recordingsproves that she's one of the finest writers and performers around.

samples: