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Review: Jennifer Left - Black Dog [EP]

Singing Hinny Music // "the lyrical content could keep the Institute of Psychiatry busy for days..."

by Huw Hopkins, May 30th, 2012 and has been Read 921 times.
Last Edited by: Ffion Davies May 30th, 2012.

Brighton has a habit of producing oddballs and Jennifer Left is no exception. Her attire, the image, the lyrical content could keep the Institute of Psychiatry busy for days, but perhaps the most perplexing are her musical decisions.

Black Dog EP is named after it’s opening song. The folksy guitar rhythm and double bass create the impression that Rush is actually a southerner of the U.S. rather than living in one of the more southerly points of the U.K. Her lyricism reeks of intelligence and extended thought, but above all, Black Dog is quite simply a delight to listen to.

LISTEN // 'Black Dog'

http://soundcloud.com/jennifer-left/black-dog

Jennifer Left maintains a level of sanity in the haunting but beautiful ‘Hushabye’, halfway in-between a lullaby and something those creepy children sing in horror movies. By using more traditional folk instruments, there is a fragility to this second song that breathes a sigh of relief when the track drawers to a close. The inclusion of the guitar, sounding similar to the lead melody from ‘The Nobodies’ by Marylin Manson adds another layer of creepiness.

LISTEN // 'Hushabye'

At this point, Jennifer Left has displayed symptoms of madness and perhaps should be kept under watch, but instead doctors let her run loose to team up with other mentally insecure members of a musical paradox. Why she or her label decided to ruin a perfectly good song is puzzling.

‘Black Dog (Restlesslist Remix)’ is not overly dissimilar to Left’s original, brilliant, opening tune on the EP, but it is muddied up with distorted guitars and indie undertones, not to mention pointless sound effects.



It is then Murder He Wrote’s chance to tear apart what should be nominated for a Mercury Prize. ‘Black Dog (Murder He Wrote Remix)’ is at least a step removed from the original song without compromising its roots. The beat is simple and the vocal line is left untouched. Had this been the only spin-off, less offense would have been taken.

Instead Jennifer Left allows one more DJ to have a crack at it and ‘Black Dog (The Wild Knights Remix)’ waters the original track to urine by not taking it in a new direction, but taking it down to the river to drown.

LISTEN // 'Black Dog' (The Wild Knights Remix)

http://soundcloud.com/jennifer-left/jennifer-left-black-dog-the

And so the spiral in to insanity is complete. From a bluegrass, jug-band, folk-roots inspired little ditty, to a mess of cuttings on the bedroom floor of a directionless producer. Jennifer Left’s artistic choice and quirky nature go from something unique to something of a mess and leaves a disappointed taste in the mouth of many a listener.