Jennifer Evans makes bold return under new moniker Jæd.

lloydbolton52

Oct 3

'Vessel List' is a dazzling listen, as confident in its wonkiness as in its moments of polish.

Photo: Louise Mason | Words: Lloyd Bolton

Readers may be familiar with the work of Jennifer Evans, who has been releasing music intermittently for more than a decade, most recently a feature on this year's Slow Dance Records compilation. Declaring a fresh name change, the artist now known as Jæd introduces her rebrand with a see-sawing vocal loop, abrasive but hypnotic as it draws the listener in to new single 'Vessel List.'

Like much of Evans' work, it combines experimental sounds with instinctive, funky rhythm, but the fast cuts of this new track bring a new potency that makes for a dazzling listen. Initially, we switch between that mechanical opening hook and a verse that shimmers with groove. Then, as the track evolves, these two key elements synthesise, glued together by improbable synth warbles.

Much like the recent releases from contemporaries Water From Your Eyes, the track uses the distressed, destructive sounds of punk but redirects their trajectory towards more danceable ends, while making use of a contemporary sound library. 'Vessel List' is enjoyably confounding, a coherence to the madness making for an eloquent and exciting artistic statement.