We Made This Ourselves

Essie Jain | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 13, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ba Da Bing
• ASIN: B000LPR570
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,070 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

We Made This Ourselves, the first album by New York-via-London expat Essie Jain, is an insanely spare and sparse work. Accompanied by piano and guitar (as well as other instruments, like drums by Jim White of The Dirty Three), Jain's vocals breathe in the space between the words and phrases. The album sounds like she's surrounded by an entire orchestra, each member waiting patiently for their one moment to play, then fading again to stillness.

In 2004, she started recording at home with an eight-track. This gave her the freedom to experiment. She realized what she needed to do in order to create the sound she wanted -- nothing. Let the songs be roughly hewn. Keep them minimal. Avoid all indulgences. Let the music get as dark as it has to be. Her past few years' life experience gave rise to the lyrics that are so central to this record.

The result is We Made This Ourselves, a stunningly emotional album. At the core, Essie Jain's songs are touching, haunting melodies that can strike out on one fragile, repeating note. Yet, they sound indestructible. It's like nothing you've ever heard before, and it is spoken with a powerful quiet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun listening......, July 15, 2007

By 

mary e roberts "maryrose" (sausalito, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: We Made This Ourselves (Audio CD)

Loved this original CD. Mellow, yet spicy and varied. Easy listening with great lyrics - really like poetry. Thanks, Essie and please give us another soon.