Sacred Bones
Review by Warren Mayocchi
Jenny Hval is an artist with a definite style. You can expect plenty of spoken word vocals, a delicate singing voice, confronting lyrics, and a somewhat abstract approach. “The Practice Of Love” is her latest production and this one includes guests on all but two tracks. Surprisingly, these two tracks are my preferred offerings. To explain my surprise, I am not a fan of spoken word music, so knowing Jenny Hval‘s style it was a pleasant surprise minimal, even musical, spoken words on them. “High Alice” is a lot like a Yello track, strong electronic melodies, a floating sung vocal, with rhythmic intersessions of spoken words.
“Ashes To Ashes” places an extended spoken word passages throughout the song, over a Pet Shop Boys backing. Once again the words are quite musical in delivery. The remainder of the songs are similar in backing style, varying in tempo, however they include an annoying abundance of jarring spoken word and other samples. Of these “Six Red Cannas” is my preference as the regular statements of years (“1927″…”1946″…) throughout interfere less with the song than on other tracks. Other songs feature extended conversations, “The Practice of Love” actually has a couple of speakers each delivering their own monologue.
One of the speakers is being interviewed, so we also hear the incidental laughs, a-has, hmms, and so on. For some people I am sure the spoken word sections are integral to the experience, for me, they are a mental stumbling block. It is as if I am attempting to be involved with a piece of music, however there are constant interruptions which disrupt the experience completely. Since this is Jenny Hval‘s seventh album there is obviously an audience who love the style, I am sure you will continue to love what you find here. Check out the music video for “Accident” if you are curious.
Rating – 75/100
Tracklist:
- Lions (feat. Vivian Wang)
- High Alice
- Accident (feat. Laura Jean)
- The Practice of Love (feat. Laura Jean and Vivian Wang)
- Ashes To Ashes
- Thumbsucker (feat. Félicia Atkinson)
- Six Red Cannas (feat. Vivian Wang, Félicia Atkinson and Laura Jean)
- Ordinary (feat. Vivian Wang and Félicia Atkinson)
Line Up:
- Jenny Hval – Vocals
Links:
Facebook
Jenny Hval Official Website