Vocalist and composer Joanna Wallfisch teamed up with pianist Dan Tepfer awhile back for a deep and penetrating album that was hard to let go of. This time around, she creates a similar mood of reflection with him, but adds the Sacconi Quartet of Ben Hancox/v, Hanna Dawson/v, Robin Ashwell/va and Pierre Doumenge/c to create an album that creates a chamber music-styled atmosphere of reflection. Her voice is dreamy eyed throughout, with elegiac reflections and misty moods on”Moons of Jupiter” and “Song to The Siren.” The elegance of piano and strings on “Anonymous Journeys” and “Satin Grey” have Wallfisch create an atmosphere similar to a Jane Austin novel, starry eyed and dreamy with pastoral green hills in the background. Some electric recorded voices change the mood a bit on “Dreams of a Carousel” and Tepfer’s piano gets assertive and even rumbling in a boogie on ”Gardens of My Mind,” but two takes of Joni Mitchell’s “Al I Want” reveal Wallfisch’s pulse as the first is dreamy and the second and closing version includes a genteel vocal choir. Stately and charming in pastels.
Sunnyside Records