Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B Review
On I Love You Jennifer B Jockstrap surpass expectations, proving to be one of the most important and forward thinking groups of 2022.
When Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye met at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama to study jazz and electronic composition, Jockstrap was born. In the short time they’ve been around they’ve racked up a dynamic collection of EPs and singles including 2020’s critically acclaimed Wicked City EP. Their song writing has always been an endearing blend of timeless vocals, lo-fi DIY aesthetics and cutting-edge production. With I Love You Jennifer B Jockstrap defy expectation, creating a collection of tracks that push the boundaries of the current UK music landscape.
The album opens to ‘Neon’ an acoustic guitar driven track that very quickly get’s weird. Jockstraps music speaks to beauty but it’s often injected with a dose of dissonance. As the track progresses the guitars dissipate. Penetrative distorted guitar and drums engulf piano arpeggios, as Ellery’s vocals build into a mini-fugue.
The album sees a serious development for Jockstrap musically; every track on this record seems to expertly weave a timeless beauty found in music with dissonance and innovative music production. Ellery shares that Jockstrap’s limits have altered slightly since their early days: “Not much has changed, most of the songs are still inspired by personal relationships or formative experiences, but I'd say I’m a bit more guarded and cautious these days. My lyrics now explore the suppression of feelings and longing.”
But while Jockstrap today represent a complex mix of feelings; at their core they continue to be a source of happiness with an optimistic undertone. The opening of "Glasgow" begins with an electronic crystalline harp. Taylor calls it “our coming of age, moving forward, long-distance travelling, most beautifully bosk and wonderfully thicket-like song”.
‘Concrete Over Water’ is one of the greatest songs of 2022. It’s gorgeous vocal melody and exceptional production makes it one of the most engaging performances on I Love You Jennifer B. Erratic synths plague the chorus consumed by sweeping strings and ominous choral chants. This song expertly weaves Jockstraps lo-fi energy with an uncompromising maximalist approach. As the track dissipates, Georgia’s vocals stutter and twist before the song crescendos into its explosive finale.
Considering the experimental nature of the album, it’s a surprise so many elements work together. Perhaps another art pop band wouldn’t so effortlessly seam together funky bass lines, abrasive synths and ethereal strings. An extended version of lead single ‘50/50’ closes the album. In some senses this track feels a lot like a bonus track where ‘Lancaster Court’ feels more like a definitive ending with it’s glitched out string stabs, delicate acoustic guitars and ethereal vocals. Though the sequencing doesn’t quite work, ’50/50’ is definitely one of Jockstrap’s biggest bangers.
Jockstrap songs simultaneously feel like they have been with you eternally and still sound radically new. There’s a bewildering sense of surrealism yet their DIY/lofi aesthetic grounds them firmly in reality. If their debut is anything to go off, the sky is the limit for Jockstrap.
