Pull My Hair Back

About

Radiating an elusive, come-hither cool, Jessy Lanza makes the most of her minimalist surroundings on her debut album, <i>Pull My Hair Back</i>. Skittering beats, spring-loaded basslines, and tremulous synths form the backdrops for this Canadian singer’s gossamer vocals. A protégé of The Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan, Lanza brings both mystery and underlying sweetness to her role as electro-pop diva. She fills the tracks with a distant yet seductive air, squeezing every drop of desire out of her songs’ pared-down lyrics. Tunes like “5785021” and “Against the Wall” have a vintage disco noir feel, pairing Lanza’s breathy trills with nervously insistent grooves. She achieves a Minnie Riperton–like elegance on “As If” and rides the crisp rhythm of “Keep Moving” with the aplomb of Diana Ross. Much credit goes to Greenspan’s imaginative production, which nudges the album into spacy realms without unduly declaring its artsiness. The Krautrock pulsations of “Giddy,” the bare-bones slink of “Kathy Lee,” and the billowy caress of “Strange Emotion” testify to the album’s creative use of a restrained sonic palette. Lanza moves across these shifting canvases with erotic grace, enticing listeners to stay close and follow.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

Start your shelf to read the full take →