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Jessica Peters is growing up, both musically and lyrically.
The beautiful simplicity of Blue Cotton Skin has been supplanted
by a highly textured and multi-layered symphony of sound. Gone are
the days of little pop gems built around a simple part off the Nord
Lead. Instead, We Are Wyoming is filled with delicate melodies
and a subdued musicality that is far more tuned to relaxation and
introspection than Petracovich's last record.
The album begins with the atmospheric sounds of birds singing and
then flows right into "Pecadillos", a track that would be
very soft and downbeat were it not for the trashy drums that jump
in at opportune moments to create just a bit of tension. "Summer
Trees" is pretty pop at its finest - slow music based around
a nice piano melody that is skillfully enhanced by Peters' breathy
vocals and charged harmonies. Taking a turn similar to Beth Orton's
latest project, "Telephone" seems more a folk song that's
been given synthesizer flesh - it fits comfortably, and the melody
is charming and the music a sort of modern indie lullaby. "The
Ultrasound" is based around a lilting descending piano line played
over warbling synthesis that creates the perfect amount of tension
to make the song really stand out from the pack. Slowing it even more
on "Paper Cup", Peters strips away the extras and focuses
on just piano and vocals, which makes for a definite highlight on
the record. A carnival atmosphere reigns on "Others" with
its calliope-esque tune, and then the album jumps back to deep introspection
which leads to the eerie "We Are Wyoming". This track finishes
the album in a strange atmospheric fashion, the basic song structure
underpinned with floating electronics and washes of odd sounds that
make for an interesting listen… A bit reminiscent of the slower
moments of Area and The Moon Seven Times.
There is a deep undercurrent of electronica that runs through these
songs, reminding the listener of where Petracovich began and where
Peters' heart seemingly lies. I think that despite the fact that these
songs are so well produced and built up around layers of sound and
aural texture, that Jessica longs for those older days of sitting
in her bedroom with nothing but her synthesizer, writing songs that
came straight from the heart with little to draw attention away from
the basic structures. We Are Wyoming is beautiful, true…
but so was the stark soulfullness of Blue Cotton Skin.
-Embo Blake
Track Listing:
1. Clair De Lune
2. Pecadillos
3. Summer Trees
4. Telephone
5. What If I Came to Get You?
6. Fantasy Impromptu
7. The Ultrasound
8. Sparrows on 4th Street
9. Paper Cup
10. Others
11. Swallows on 8th Street
12. All I Have to Say
13. Dearly Departed
14. We Are Wyoming
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