review: crayon angel
Cult 70s songstress Judee Sill has her music lovingly re-rendered in the compilation album Crayon Angel, due for release in August. The album sees fifteen contemporary musicians, including Final Fantasy and Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear, brought together to re-work and re-interpret Sill’s melodies, memorable for their raw folk tonalities and lyrical honesty.
Although under-recognised as an artist, Sill’s unique music has gleaned devotees among musicians and listeners alike; culminating in a tribute album that tenderly highlights and re-moulds the most distinctive elements of her musical style. Throughout the album, a focus on emotive singing stands out, most poignantly in ‘The Kiss,’ where Marissa Nadler’s vocals create a shimmering ethereal delicacy that sounds good enough to eat. Other standouts include ‘Waterfall’ by Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear fame, which carries the band’s predilection for layered, cascading vocals, and Frida Hyvönen’s rendition of Sill’s debut single: ‘Jesus was a Crossmaker.’
Sill’s classically inspired instrumental backings are also re-interpreted on the album. Although most of the songs on the album are similar in that they feature a strong emphasis on voice and folk-guitar accompaniment, the album is always fresh and interesting. The artists on Crayon Angel display considerable skill in their articulation of Sill’s tone, and should be lauded for creating an album that is faithful to the musical expressions of their predecessor.
Written by Jacinta Mulders.
