REVIEW: Liz Janes - Say Goodbye

Liz Janes - Say Goodbye
MMM1/2

Saying Liz Janes is a bit of a chanteuse is like saying Ella Fitzgerald was a great singer. Like Fitzgerald, there’s a soothing serenity to Janes’ voice, one that’s capable of quieting anything with its gentle, angelic, honeyed tone. Surrounded by a yin-yang of spacey folk and jazz-inflected soul, cradled by a spacious amount of reverb, Janes’ voice soars with a comforting, reassuring strength.

It’s been five years since Liz Janes’ last release (the 2005’s collaboration with LA free-jazz collective Create (!) ) and nearly six years since Janes’ last solo album (2004’s Poison & Snakes). Say Goodbye, released this past December, moves away from the indie and folk rock tendencies of Poison & Snakes and the avant folk experimentalism of 2005’s Create (!) collaboration towards more jazz and pop-oriented material. It’s refreshing to hear an artist take risks with his or her sound and direction, and Janes is no exception – precisely why Say Goodbye sounds somewhat adventurous without ever really attempting to do so.

LISTEN: Liz Janes - "I Don't Believe"

By Danny Santos II

MP3: Liz Janes - "I Don't Believe"

There's something truly profound about Liz Janes' chanteuse-style and cool jazz appeal. She sings from the roots of her heart and soul, and yet manages to leave something for the imagination to mull over. There's a reserved beauty to it all, and yet it still radiates a brilliant aura of emotion. It's this unspoken intimacy that draws you deep inside the song's sultry mood. It's a song that crosses a jazz cool with pop accessibility as Janes ruminates over a soulful rhythm. All throughout it's an airy meditation on love, and, in its own special way, rather dreamlike.

BUY: "I Don't Believe" is from Liz Janes' new album, Say Goodbye, out December 7th on Asthmatic Kitty. You can pre-order it on Amazon or directly from Asthmatic Kitty here.

Liz Janes
MySpace
Asthmatic Kitty