June 3, 2023

Jazmine Mary – Dog (13th Floor Album Review)

Jazmine Mary releases their second long-player, titled Dog, and it’s a beauty.

According to the PR, ’Jazmine Mary won’t tell you what the album is about or why this album is called Dog. They could well be hiding something from us, but the more probable reason is that they are a responsible artist and know it’s not for them to tell you how to experience what they already have.’

And if that seems a bit cryptic, take a look at the cover art.

So listening to, or even thinking about, Jazmine Mary can pose more questions than answers.

But the answer to whether you should give Dog some serious listening time is a resounding, yes!

Like most of my favourite singer-songwriters, Jazmine’s voice is almost important as their songs. Think about Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen or Joni Mitchell, either you connect with the voice or not.

Jazmine Mary In the case of Jazmine, the word that comes to mind when listening to these 10 new songs is ‘beguiling‘.

Sure you can, ‘smoke a bit of dope and chill out’ as Jazmine sings on opening track Dope, but this is a record that stands up, even demands, closer attention.

Produced by Jazmine and Peter Ruddell (Sulfate) and played by Jazmine (Guitar , keys , vocals ) along with Dave Kahn (Strings, bass ) Courtney Rodgers ( Drums) and Peter Ruddell (Piano, Synth, Saxophone, Backing vocals) Elizabeth Stokes (From The Beths played trumpet and Flugelhorn) and JY Lee (Flute and Sax, the sound is both sparse and lush with intriguing moments of rare beauty as a cello, or sax or trumpet sound at first otherworldly and simultaneously perfectly placed.

And what Jazmine does with their voice is truly a wonder…random squawks, growls and yelps seems to come out of nowhere.

“Describing” the instrumentation or quoting the lyrics does little justice to this music. Listen for yourself and I think you’ll find yourself drawn in to Jazmine Mary’s world.

Or, it could all go to the dogs.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Marty Duda