JENNY BERKEL plays Free Times as part of NXNE June 14 at midnight. See listing. Rating: NNN
Ontario-raised, Winnipeg-based songwriter Jenny Berkel’s debut solo album is by and large lonesome and lonely, to borrow a lyric from one of her songs.
Produced by Matt Peters (Royal Canoe, the Waking Eyes), the songs are underpinned by Berkel’s sparse electric guitar and carried by her smooth voice – pleasant but with a cool, weary huskiness that suits her subject matter.
Despite the chamber-orchestra-style arrangements (cello and upright bass, as well as French horn, organ and percussion) many songs have a similar ambling pace that diminishes the overall emotional impact.
That said, an honest longing is palpable on Come A Long Way, and Berkel experiments with letting the strings take over on Cover My Grave and with poetry on Awaken In Stars.
Top track: Come A Long Way