Manchester-based singer/songwriter
Jasmine.4.T
signed to
Phoebe Bridgers
'
Saddest Factory Records
after connecting with the label following a tour opening for
Lucy Dacus
. The three members of
Boygenius
act as co-producers for her debut full-length album,
You Are the Morning
, and feature prominently on some songs. With this much support from one of the biggest indie supergroups of their time also comes the risk of those associations overshadowing any unique personality a new artist might be trying to showcase. Right out of the gate,
has the blessing and the curse of some potent
associations. Luckily,
makes music far too emotionally complex and sonically interesting to be filed away with the standard sadgirl fare, much less written off as a
sound-alike. The airy vocal presence, winding melodies, and understated acoustic guitars of songs like "Kitchen" and the title track are reminiscent of the perfectly molded indie folk of
Elliott Smith
, and the occasional inclusion of strings adds new layers of beauty to the arrangements.
detours from the folk core of her songwriting in favor of high-tension rock on tracks like "Skin on Skin" or "Elephant." These album standouts bring cathartic guitar distortion and pushy rhythms to
Jasmine
's typically gentle delivery, ramping up the energy and excitement as they build. Even when the
crew share the spotlight on "Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation" (a song where
duets on lead with
Bridgers
while
Dacus
and
Julien Baker
lend backing vocals),
's unconventional vocal character and the unexpected twangy elements she adds to the instrumentation are the most curious and notable parts.
splits the difference between weary folk and anxious '90s-informed alt-rock throughout, moving from blasts like "Tall Girl" to soft reflections like the piano-led "Roan."
is a trans woman, and some of her most immediate songs are those that deal directly with the beauty and pain unique to the transfeminine experience. In particular, closing track "Woman" is an overt inspection of trans identity and one of the album's boldest and most moving tracks.
is a powerful debut, offering songs that are musically adventurous and emotionally substantial. It's an album worthy of its co-signs from the
camp but one that stands solidly on the merits of its own uncompromising creation. ~ Fred Thomas