Edmonton's music scene in Canada has been garnering more and more recognition as of late. One of its daughters, Jessica Jalbert, just released her debut album, Brother Loyola. This album was crafted with fellow Edmonton musicians, Liam Trimble, Rene Wilson, and Doug Hoyer.
Like singer songwriter Mirah, Jalbert’s vocals are the backbone of her songs. Though her lyrics are intensely emotional, Jalbert’s voice is always polished and controlled. In a pop-folk style, the tracks on this album use both violin and electric guitar. The instruments are layered with Jalbert’s clear voice to evoke a dream-like quality.
The opening track, “Necromancy” is a day-dream lullaby. The violins on this track follow Jalbert’s smooth voice and add a sense of richness to her vocals. This song has a beautiful meditative feel.
Two tracks on this album utilize a feedback sound. In the first, “Whatever Whoever,” the feedback subtly harmonizes with Jalbert’s vocals. The electric guitar smoothly transitions between chords and feedback. In “O Evening Colors,” the feedback clashes with the rest of the song’s washed out feeling. The vocals, guitar, and percussion gently conjure an image of the fading sun. The use of feedback is somewhat jarring and makes this track the seem out of place compared to the rest of Brother Loyola.
"Lack of a Lake," one of the album's singles has a retro surf feel. The electric guitar has a purposeful feel, which contrasts with the washed out vocals. This track has the most poppy sound of the album. "Casual 3/4" closes out Brother Loyola in a strong way. Its soporific acoustic guitar pairs perfectly with Jalbert's sweet vocals. The horns on the track have a muted feel to them. It seems that this album begins and ends with a daydream.
