Here in the Pitch
Where the ’60s-ish folk singer Jessica Pratt’s first few albums had the insular feel of music transmitted from deep within someone’s psyche, *Here in the Pitch* is open and ready—cautiously, gently—to be heard. The sounds aren’t any bigger, nor are they jockeying any harder for your attention. (There is no jockeying here, this is a jockey-free space.) But they do take up a little more room, or at least seem more comfortable in their quiet grandeur—whether it’s the lonesome western-movie percussion of “Life Is” or the way the featherlight *sha-la-la*s of “Better Hate” drift like a dazzled girl out for a walk among the bright city lights. This isn’t private-press psychedelia anymore, it’s *Pet Sounds* by The Beach Boys and the rainy-day ballads of Burt Bacharach—music whose restraint and sophistication concealed a sense of yearning rock ’n’ roll couldn’t quite express (“World on a String”). And should you worry that her head is in the clouds, she levels nine blows in a tidy, professional 27 minutes. They don’t make them like they used to—except that she does.
Jessica Pratt’s fourth album of hypnagogic folk music hones her mysterious song to its finest point.
Jessica Pratt’s fourth album of hypnagogic folk music hones her mysterious song to its finest point.
The 9-track, 27-minute Here in the Pitch passes quickly, though Pratt covers significant ground. Her gift for invoking and sustaining a beguiling mood remains centerstage; that gift, however, is complemented by an elevated songcraft
The 9-track, 27-minute Here in the Pitch passes quickly, though Pratt covers significant ground. Her gift for invoking and sustaining a beguiling mood remains centerstage; that gift, however, is complemented by an elevated songcraft
Jessica Pratt's fourth album—and her first in five years—attempts to reckon with time and all of its charms, disasters and unknowns.
Jessica Pratt's fourth album—and her first in five years—attempts to reckon with time and all of its charms, disasters and unknowns.
Jessica Pratt knows how to keep people waiting. It’s been five long years since the release of Quiet Signs, a record that found her working in the studio for the first time and elevated her quietly mesmerizing songs to a new level of expertise and public awareness.
Jessica Pratt knows how to keep people waiting. It’s been five long years since the release of Quiet Signs, a record that found her working in the studio for the first time and elevated her quietly mesmerizing songs to a new level of expertise and public awareness.
Each new album from Jessica Pratt feels like a gift. The songwriter works at her own speed, ensuring that each message is imbued with a remarkable sense
Each new album from Jessica Pratt feels like a gift. The songwriter works at her own speed, ensuring that each message is imbued with a remarkable sense
Here in the Pitch by Jessica Pratt album review by Christopher Patterson for Northern Transmissions. The LP is out today via Mexican Summer
Here in the Pitch by Jessica Pratt album review by Christopher Patterson for Northern Transmissions. The LP is out today via Mexican Summer
With her best songs yet, the Californian singer’s fourth album could transform her from fringe act to mainstream success
With her best songs yet, the Californian singer’s fourth album could transform her from fringe act to mainstream success