Thanks to Jimmy Dunne, President of Inspire — a music and branding company partnering on music initiatives with Whole Foods Market — for providing this blog post.
When I think of the albums that have withstood the test of time— that continue to impress themselves on new generations of listeners— they tend to share a few common elements: a sense of “location,” a narrative thru-line, an authentic sensibility, a rooted trademark “sound.” And they’re always risky. Kind of Blue. OK Computer. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. London Calling. Jesca Hoop’s Hunting My Dress boasts all of the promising elements of a timeless album, and it’s already garnered the affection of critics worldwide. Through our Artist Discovery Series, we’re joining the cause of launching her inventive artistry to center stage. You can find Jesca Hoop’s new album, released by Vanguard Records, in your local Whole Foods Market starting August 6.((Read on for a video of Jesca and an opportunity to hear the new album.)Hunting My Dress traverses a broad range of acoustic and electric textures, but it never loses direction; each track further investigates the rich and mysterious layers enveloping Jesca’s eerily antiquated voice and her bent for storytelling. There is a constant tension as centuries collide, between 19th century hymnal/traditional ballads, 20th century blues and roots rock, and contemporary avant-rock and electronic. “Tulip”, Jesca’s take on traditional murder ballads, juxtaposes folk instrumentation with contemporary elements of synth-infused dub. “Four Dreams” is a hoedown with hints of Robert Johnson in the bridge, but it diverges there with its surrealist imagery and bubbly Bjork-esque vocals.
But it’s not just the merging of multiple influences to a contemporary sound that makes Jesca Hoop so interesting; other recently celebrated emerging acts with female artists, like The Dirty Projectors and St. Vincent, are already harkening to affiliations with the likes of Bjork, David Byrne, and Beck, for their ability to draw from the past. It’s the emotional gravitas of her lyricism and expression that earned her the ongoing support of Tom Waits, and her selection for the Artist Discovery Series. Beyond the sonic experience of her music, her songwriting is captivating. A noteworthy example is “Angel Mom”, a heart-wrenching conversation from a girl to the ghost of her mother, which beautifully navigates between the rage of her loss and the liberating joy of remembering a loved one.For all of these reasons, and many more, we are proud to promote Jesca’s music in Whole Foods Market. Look for Jesca as she performs in Lilith Fair with our most recent Artist Discovery selection, Nneka!For an exclusive first listen of Jesca’s new album ‘Hunting My Dress,’ visit NPR’s “First Listen” opens in a new tab. It warrants a full listen in one sitting.Thanks to Vanguard Records for providing us with a video of Jesca performing “Four Dreams” live in Manchester (streaming below).Jesca Hoop - Four Dreams (Live in Manchester) opens in a new tab from VanguardVideo opens in a new tab on Vimeo opens in a new tab.
