Julia Jacklin – Leadlight: Leave it up to an Australian to do folk Americana better than most US born and bred artists. On her new album, Don’t Let The Kids Win (Polyvinyl Record Co.), Sydney’s Julia Jacklin has tapped into something special. Something that can only be found by creating music that amounts to an intimate examination of a life still being lived.
From Fiona Apple she learned to be bold with words; from Anna Calvi, the cut and presence of electric guitar; and from Angel Olsen, that interpretation triumphs over technique. Across 11 tracks, Don’t Let The Kids Win courses with the aching current of alt-country and indie-folk, augmented by Jacklin’s undeniable calling cards: her rich, distinctive voice, and her playful, observational wit.
Recorded at New Zealand’s Sitting Room studios with Ben Edwards (Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding, Nadia Reid), Don’t Let The Kids Win courses with the aching current of alt-country and indie-folk, augmented by Jacklin’s undeniable calling cards: her rich, distinctive voice, and her playful, observational wit.
In the new single for “Leadlight,” all of these elements are celebrated and given their fair share of time. Julia’s soothing voice weaves in and out of a waltzy backbeat with a charming lethargy to her delivery. In the “Leadlight” video, she delivers the same methodically mellow vibe, nailing her deadpan delivery in a most convincing way. Julia plays the part of a shy, insecure young lass practicing all of her best moves while working up the courage to talk to an oh-so-handsome young man. With a feeling reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film, the sum of “Leadlight” hits all the right notes through a combination of brilliant minimalist pieces.
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