Line Out Music & the City at Night

Slog

News & Arts

@SEAshows
Twitter feed of Seattle shows on sale now

« The Horrors, Japanese Motors @ Neum… | In Case You Need Proof That it is I… »

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Album Bargain-Bin Baffler

Posted by Dave Segal on Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 2:44 PM

As of yesterday, Jessamine’s self-titled 1994 debut album (the esteemed Kranky Records’ third ever release) was languishing in Everyday Music’s discount bins for… 95 cents. Huh.

Jessamine is a finessed updating of Silver Apples-style electronic rock, suffused with sublimely chilled atmospheres, eerie drones, an epicurean, space-rockish tonal palette, and hushed, ice-maiden vocals courtesy of Dawn Smithson. Seriously, although it could use a remastering (the CD sounds way too quiet to 2009 ears), this is one of the best (post)-rock records ever to come out of Seattle. And it's selling for 95 cents. Huh.

Comments (7) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

I'm not suprised by anything these days. It's a worthy record fer shure.

Posted by Summerisle

on October 7, 2009 at 6:22 PM

For someone who doesn't seem to dig 90s post rock in the modern age, I'm shocked you wrote about this album.

Posted by MacGuffin on October 8, 2009 at 12:20 AM

@2
Oh, I like '90s post-rock—interesting '90s post-rock.

Posted by Segal on October 8, 2009 at 1:20 AM

Waaaaaaaaiiiiiiittttt a second.... does that mean you are for or against the last few years of Mogwai cover bands?

Posted by Cootz on October 8, 2009 at 9:50 AM

Well, I was a-going to a shitload o' shows in Seattle back in '94, and this is the first time I've ever even heard of these guys. Perhaps PR has something to do with it...
Or perhaps they didn't do "LIVE" shows????

Posted by Keekee on October 9, 2009 at 9:39 AM

@5
They played out a fair amount, from what I can gather. I saw Jessamine in Cleveland in 1995 or thereabouts.

Posted by Dave Segal on October 12, 2009 at 11:17 AM

This was a great record. They played some great shows in Portland. I saw them play at the Satyricon and La Luna. Best Sabbath cover EVER (National Acrobat)! I moved to Seattle at the same time they moved to Portland. Fontanelle just wasn't the same to my ears, sadly. Loved that Farfisa sound so much, I bought one myself!

Posted by Royal Jelly on October 12, 2009 at 4:24 PM