Jaywalking
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
The debut album from the Montréal artist Roxane Reddy, the singer-songwriter welcomes an all star cast for these atypical pop songs.
After the brief, dreamy “Deux mille vingt-deux” opens the listen with a hazy warmth, “Proies” follows with Reddy’s pretty, expressive pipes alongside Yannick Anctil’s graceful keys, Victoria Hebbard bright trumpet and Alain Bourgeois’ skilled drumming for the textured beauty.
Halfway through, “Fall”, which was recorded live, showcases Reddy’s poetic singing amid the graceful piano, while “Les baleines” follows in 2 movements that display Carl Mayotte’s strategic bass and Louis-Martin Ruest’s emotive guitar playing for the cultured atmosphere.
The last piece, “Eleanoir a Run” exits the listen with a stirring A capella focused track, where the flawless vocals are nothing short of stunning in the emotive finish.
A very colorful first album, Reddy tells stories you’re going to want to hear, and the nods to legends like Joni Mitchell and Pat Methany are much appreciated across the orchestral and Gaelic Irish moments of flexible songwriting.
Travels well with: Alex Lefaivre Quartet- Naufragés; Holly Burke- Dreamride