Jessica's Brother

File under: Indie, Americana, Folk. Eponymous debut album from London trio Jessicas Brother, comprised of songwriter Tom Charleston, Jonny Helm (The Wave Pictures) and Charlie Higgs (Ramshackle Union Band). Channelling the spirit of the Brothers Grimm to create an otherworldly atmosphere, they weave their influences together making a rich and eclectic vision, with nods to Silver Jews, Jason Molina, Nick Cave, Richard Thompson and Neil Young. There are themes of joy, anger and silliness in a carefully crafted world with a colourful cast of characters. The trio formed in October 2016 and just nine months later they recorded the album with Laurie Sherman with input from Darren Hayman. A few other friends joined them including Dan Mayfield (Enderbys Room), who added a dose of Bad Seeds/Dirty Three vibes on the violin and Paul Rains (Allo Darlin/Tigercats) on guitar. Tom Charlestons songwriting is influenced more by poets than other musicians, he cites John Ashbery, T. S. Eliot and Philip Larkin as inspirations. Ten startling individual vignettes tell their own stories from a variety of narrators points of view. One Of The Guys, about the toxic nature of being one of the guys in a predatory pack. Overnight Horror revolves around the macho-masculine nightmare where, as Charleston explains, the world has gone head-over-heels shitward and the narrator is reduced to selling his daughter or his wife to stay alive. All The Better, is a hushed, eerie folk song exploring the melancholy and optimism of breaching adolescence and the limbo before adulthood. Weaving a variety of influences from jangly indie-rock to gothic country and contemplative psych folk, Jessicas Brother create the sound of a band coming together and getting caught up in the rush of starting new and enjoyable. Jessicas Brothers shambling nerdcore is clearly a passion project intended to please only themselves. Good for them A jingling rush that would have headed John Peels Festive 50 in anothA1) Getting Obscene A2) All the Better A3) One of the Guys A4) Dylan A5) Humdinger B1) Overnight Horror B2) Come Around B3) Hare B4) Lulu Walls B5) Cold, White and Blue Day