Strangely, even though Kathy Kennedy has been active in the field of vocal avant-garde since the 1990s, Vowel Jams is her first album of this kind! The playful and experimental orality of the Montrealer follows in the footsteps of other experimental vocalists such as Pauline Oliveros or Meredith Monk. Kennedy likes the idea of allowing everyone, without any training, to join in vocal performances. This philosophy of play permeates the album Vowel Jams, in which she constructs complex but attractive vocal edifices that are potentially simple to replicate.
In an amalgamation of her own voice, field recordings, and fairly basic electronic manipulation (processing from pedals, loops), Vowel Jams blossoms into nine tracks often rhythmically structured like advanced pop. Onomatopoeia, extravagantly voiced vowels, breaths and gasps that evoke Inuit throat singing, all sorts of extended techniques are heard, organised in a spirit of communication and accessibility. AEIOU is a good example of the depth of this music: the vowels of the title mix with toddler sounds in a pleasant groove that becomes more charged and shamanic as the piece progresses. At once a link to everyday family banality and a vision of ritual transcendence, the piece expresses a wide panorama of meaning, while avoiding any cerebral heaviness.
We also greatly enjoy Lololo‘s liquid gurgles or elsewhere Kitsy‘s percussive and almost polyphonic sounds. Even though I’m pointing at specific titles, the entire program is punctuated with many joyful moments and exciting vocal textures.
Kennedy describes her music as
unpretentious attempts at maintaining a playful attitude to orality and vocal composition for personal pleasure
I confirm that it is extremely successful and that Vowel Jams is an essential production in the expression of avant-garde creative rigour in a democratic and generously communicative way. We must thank the Montreal label Orchard of Pomegranate for having as its mission to give us access to this kind of artistic vision. Bravo.
High-quality contemporary music designed for all ears and without any condescending elitism. Essential.
