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EP review Jackie Barnett - Natural
SUGAR Daddy begins this collection of five songs. It is an observant tale of a woman who is only with her man because of his wealth.
Acoustic guitar picks its way through the song - accompanied by warm backing vocals and subtle, atmospheric keyboards. It has a gentle sense of humour and succeeds in making a social point at the same time.
It's the type of track that could easily be picked up by a country-loving radio stations and its slightly quirky nature lends it a memorable tone.
Similar sounds continue into the beautifully haunting melodies of Natural, with a few additional electronic effects bubbling up to the surface. It's a mature track with a timeless quality - the warm female vocals mix with acoustic guitars and keyboards into a formula that would be sure to please Fleetwood Mac fans.
It's easily the most professional sounding recording I've come across from an unsigned act, but it avoids the blandness and stale perfection that can come with that seemingly flattering description. The most impressive quality of the record is its restraint; the playing and melodies are kept effortlessly subtle. Harmonica, strong lead guitar and even snatches of movie dialogue appear, but no one sound steals the show.
Jackie Barnett and guitarist/co-songwriter Tony Ginger are unashamedly big fans of Bruce Springsteen. Their covers band, Tenth Avenue, takes its name from a track on The Boss's Born To Run album. Springsteen is mentioned in the final track Soul In Rock and Roll and even credited as inspiration in the inlay notes. So, in terms of Springsteen's work, where does this collection position itself? I would say it sits among the lighter country flavoured songs on the Human Touch and Lucky Town albums of the early 90s. However, to their credit such a strong influence is not allowed to distract from their own warmer vision.
Visit www.jackiebarnett.com for more information and to buy the EP.
CHRIS BOLAND - HUNTS POST
Discography
Natural 5 track EP released March 10 2006
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Bio
Jackie Barnett’s love of music began in the living room of her parent’s terraced house in a small village in Cambridgeshire, England, where she would sing into an old reel-to-reel tape recorder. By the age of 13 she was singing in a choir at Kings College in Cambridge.
From those early days of structured live performance, her enthusiasm to entertain grew and her strong desire to perform live led her to front many bands of all styles. With her charismatic performances, she has played at both intimate and large venues including various music festivals.
Barnett’s collaboration with Tony Ginger meant their shared wealth of experience motivated them to write songs that reflect a kaleidoscope of emotion. Inspired to write with the passion and honesty of Springsteen combined with feminine warmth, they weave a myriad of sentiment that echo’s reality.
“Natural” is Barnett’s debut EP the origins of which come straight out of the country/rock tradition, which lends itself to the storyteller Barnett fosters in her coruscating performances. Making “Natural” was creatively liberating, using musicians she had previously not worked with has brought a refreshing feel to her music.
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