Musical Nanny That Gives Mary Poppins a Run for Her Money

Jesca Hoop is one of those other-worldly, whimsical song goddesses.  She draws comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, and Tori Amos.  Although there are some similar vocal elements, I think her mystique is uniquely her own.  I think it’s sort of a dangerous game to throw every quirky songstress with a lilting voice in the same category so I think it's only fair to let Miss Hoop have her moment.

Tom Waits says “Her music is like swimming in a lake at night.”  Mr. Waits’ endorsement has surely only benefitted her career, but the connection to Waits is not soley musical.  Before becoming a full-time musician, Jesca was actually a nanny to Tom and his wife Kathleen Brennan’s three children.  Waits heard a demo of hers, was impressed, and consequently passed it along and the record deal was hers.

The thing that really intrigues about Jesca (no that isn't a typo), is the vocal range she seems to have and play with in each track.  Her songs have a strange phonetic cadence with playful words that otherwise might not make sense together.  She stitches them together with her magical musical thread, and it just well, works.  Her latest album is entitled Hunting My Dress and was released in the fall of 2010. 

The highlights for me are the tracks Four Dreams, Murder of Birds (Hauntingly beautiful duet with the Guy Garvey of Elbow), Hunting my Dress, and The Kingdom.

Jesca hails from Northern California, and has lived in Wyoming, Arizona and Los Angeles.  She currently resides in Manchester, UK. 

-Laura in LA


Jesca Hoop - Hunting My Dress by Vanguard Records