Mess Esque is beautifully, well, mess-esque on Jay Marie, Comfort Me

“Light Showroom,” the first song on Mess Esque’s new album Jay Marie, Comfort Me, sounds a bit like Mick Turner and Helen Franzmann are messing about in a practice room. Feathery bits of their instruments tickle different spots in the mix. But then around the one minute mark, Franzmann purrs that "it sounds like aaiiiir," and a bright gust of organ and guitar rushes in, sounding indeed like air, and when I heard this for the first time I thought, ah yes, I'm going to love this album. It is only the semblance of a mess. Everything is actually in its right place.

Then “Take Me To Your Infinite Garden” rolled in with its tumbling toms, becoming a loping, bluesy fuzzfest. If this whole album is a garden tilled by its wise and earthy front-woman, this one falls (to my ears) somewhere between the soft, soily folk tendrils of Florist and the intricate, organismic blooms of Big Thief. It’s organic, vivacious, and unruly. The whole thing has a relaxed, shaggy feel. Not to say that they don't commit to ideas. “That Chair,” “Crow’s Ash Tree,” and “Armour Your Amor” climb to great heights with wilder vocal runs, dynamic swells, and driving rhythms. It’s earned. Still, the tousled charm of this jangly little Australian two-piece folk rock outfit is spelled out in its name. That’s living, baby. Here’s to teetering on the edge.

Shout out to cousin Sophia for sending this one over ✌️