We Made This Ourselves

twenty-nine-year-old british-born essie jain makes her recorded debut with the glacial delights of 'we made this ourselves', an album whose quiet, powerful minimalism is undeniable. born into a musical family, essie grew up in london, where her childhood featured classical piano and cello instruction, as well as training in operatic singing. by the time she moved out of her teenage years, essie had suspended her musical education. recorded mostly in her apartment, the album is based around jain's piano and restrained, cool fire vocals with occasional discreet brushstrokes of brass, accordion, strings, guitar or hushed percussion. it's stately chamber-folk, delicate and painfully honest, seemingly detailing a wrought and failing relationship, and a disintegrating emotional self. on her enchanting debut, nyc-based english transplant essie jain makes a compelling argument for the merits of minimalism... yet the music hardly feels unfinished, thanks to jain's voice, a richly nuanced instrument that packs far more emotion than your average freak-folk warble. jain's best trick is establishing a precise melodic line, then bending it with unexpected blue notes. cd only on the leaf label.