Multi-instrumentalist Wendy Eisenberg has contributed to a lot of jazz records, as well as others on the edge of the genre. Now, she's back with her own new solo album. Wendy Eisenberg reveals the further talents of the guitarist, and steers her art into new lanes too.
The lovely "Take a Number" opens the album on a Suzanne Vega-y note, Wendy's vocals being as sweet as possible, while the more complex "Meandering Business" mixes folk forms with Wendy's brand of indie. Her voice is beautiful here, and she modulates both her playing and singing to the quietly complicated path of the track. "It's Here", a highlight on Wendy Eisenberg, finds the singer pursuing a winding vocal-line even as her guitar-work adds further twists and turns to the melody. It's just beautiful. Elsewhere, the nicely-titled "Old Math Dying" adds strings behind Wendy's voice, while "Another Lifetime Floats Away" sways with promise as Eisenberg coos sweetly. The track is wistful, and maybe a little sad, but it's a lovely sort of sad, and the tunes here all have the same sort of modest emotional power about them.
Wendy Eisenberg is a revelation of a record. If you only know Wendy's contributions to other projects, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the art-pop contained within the grooves here. And if you're new to her art, this is a good place to start. The album contains music that's both objectively beautiful, with fantastic vocals throughout, while showcasing Eisenberg's deft and subtle guitar magic. Highly recommended.
Wendy Eisenberg by Wendy Eisenberg is out today via Joyful Noise Recordings.
[Photo: Eleanor Petry]