29012014 - Sarah Jaffe "The Body Wins"

Sarah Jaffe is a wonderful bird, and even if you have never heard of her chances are you have heard her absolutely mesmerizing voice on a different, pretty high profiled album from last year. I first became aware of her through Midlake, some of whose members feature in her band on this album. Her previous record had a more conventional singer/songwriter feel to it, albeit with great songs, but "The Body Wins" is a different beast, from time to time bringing to mind artists like Sinéad O'Connor, Fiona Apple, Ane Brun, Rufus Wainwright or the marvellous John Grant, without ever letting go of what is truly her own identity. Some of the songs are as beautiful and pristine as falling snow in an enchanted forest, others pulsate sultrily to the rhythm of Jaffe's pulse. The end result is an album that will enchant you, seduce you and haunt your dreams!