Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell Me

If you don’t know who Jessica Lea Mayfield is then pay attention, because hers is a name you are likely to be hearing a heck of a lot in the future. Fans of The Blacks Keys will perhaps already know of her, as she was the first guest voice ever to be heard on one of their records at the age of just 17. Tell Me is the second album from the now 21-year-old country singer from Kent, Ohio and, just like her acclaimed debut, is produced by Dan Auerbach, who also performs some vocal duties as well as playing moog and guitar.

With her tendency to deliver bleak, dark yet beautiful songs at such a tender age, Mayfield comes across like Laura Marling’s country-lovin’ American cousin. Her melancholic words certainly have a similar weight and weariness as she is perpetually trailed by ominous storm clouds. "I can't let you fill my head with lies," she sighs on Grown Man. Her words may be cynical, but they are contrasted interestingly by some lovely, melodic country-folk-indie tunes, not least the raw guitars and thumping drums of opener, I'll Be The One That You Want Someday. When light does occasionally shine through the cracks in what is a largely dark and bruised album, it leaves a lovely glow. "This heart of mine is ready for the Spring... suddenly I can see blue skies again," she sings hopefully on Blue Skies.

Tell Me is shrouded in beautiful, dark emotional resonance, and the fact that it was authored by someone so young makes it an even more impressive achievement. A marvellous record.

Review by Rob Townsend

Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid

DAN AUERBACH
Keep It Hid

While touring The Black Keys’ most recent album, Attack & Release, guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach filled much of his spare time writing the songs that have gone on to comprise his debut solo record. Including multiple instruments played by Auerbach, including guitar, drums, keys and percussion, the 14 tracks depart ever so slightly from the dirty electric blues of his band and go on a journey through his musical influences, while all the time retaining an undeniable sense of familiarity.

Opening track Trouble Weighs a Ton is a gentle, downbeat gospel ballad which eases you in before the bone-shuddering I Want Some More bulldozes it out of the way. Heartbroken, In Disrepair is next with Smiths-like guitars making it sound like How Soon Is Now’s beardy American cousin. When The Night Comes is The Black Keys doing Van Morrison, and The Prowl offers psychedelia before things are rounded off sweetly with the delicate acoustics of Goin’ Home.

Even though Auerbach has clearly paid homage to some eclectic influences, and there is indeed some creative exploration here, one wonders whether he could have ventured just a little further from the safety of the sound he has so firmly established with his other band. Sure, it’s cool to hear the result of him dusting off his record collection, but many of these songs could still easily slot into a Black Keys album. Still, I suppose that really should be seen as an indication of the quality of Keep It Hid rather than as a wasted opportunity or a lack of vision.