If you want to see into Americana’s future, look no further than Jennah Bell. While there is a lot of gate-keeping about what is or isn’t country music, but Anchors & Elephants goes to show that all American music comes from the same place — none of it matters, and all of it is beautiful. Anchors & Elephants is a gauzy tapestry of pop, blues, jazz and folk that presents Bell as powerful and self-assured on her debut.
Bell comes to us by way of Berklee College of Music — an experience vividly captured in her 5-minute coming-of-age opus, “3’59 (New York).” In the song, Bell carries us along on a gentle breeze even as she herself steels her resolve to follow a divergent path.
Another highlight, “Chapter 3: The Hatchet,” has one of the most vivid opening lines in my recent memory. The song begins with a free-floating a capella melody before touching ground and solidifying into a spacious track. “Chapter 3” seems to serve as the keystone to this album: highlighting Bell’s poetry and knack for exploration.
Overall, Anchors & Elephants is the kind of radical convergence I enjoy and expect to see more of: breaking down rigid boundaries and definitions for the sake of beauty.
Jennah Bell — Official, Facebook
Jennah’s music will be featured on this Friday’s Adobe & Teardrops podcast. To listen to the episode now, subscribe for $1+ on our Patreon! You can also support this site by donating to our Ko-fi. Contact Von via linktr.ee/vonreviews and say hi to Rachel on Twitter @adobeteardrops. Send us music via SubmitHub.