JEN CLOHER – IN BLOOD MEMORY

Jen Cloher’s third album, In Blood Memory, is a cracker. It sounds breathlessly fresh and exciting. Following the death of both parents and casting aside a whole album of material, it was written, rehearsed and recorded quickly.

“I had passed through the eye of the storm,” explains Cloher. “I wanted to feel alive and excited again.”

Recorded live in a studio and with minimal processing, there is a rawness and honesty in the mix – warm tube guitar and plenty of natural reverb with drums spilling nicely into the vocals. This sense of space would sound so great on vinyl. Musically there is a lot of the early Velvet Underground in this record, especially on tracks like Kamikaze Origami and Toothless Tiger, while David Bowie Eyes is a playful twist on the Kim Carnes hit and the glam rocker himself.

Cloher’s voice is warm, wry and knowing – ARIA material maybe – but whose to say? (GW)

July 12, Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, $20, moshtix.com.au