On her fourth album Melbourne’s Laura Jean decamped to Bristol, UK to work with producer John Parish (PJ Harvey) and the pair have created a sparse, lilting world of bare-boned, yet emotionally ornate folk music. With her unassuming voice and songs about everyday struggles and successes this is the most direct Jean has been with her songwriting to date. The music and both her and Jenny Hval’s vocals intertwine, wrestle and embrace, with acoustic guitar providing much of the framework. The sing-song catchiness of ‘First Love Song’ and the brutal intimacy and fragility of ‘Here Comes The Miner’ are two of many highlights on this honest and beautiful album.
Chris Familton
this review was first published in The Music (Aug ’14)
Doubtful Sounds 