Jess McAllister 'Courage/Fear' (ALBUM REVIEW)

Lockdown robbed West Country based Jess McAllister of the chance to share her absorbing debut ‘Courage/Fear’ with live audiences across the land, instead restricted to the odd socially distanced or virtual gig, as, like many of us, homeschooling and side hustles suddenly took priority.

This spring’s release of single ‘The Bushiest of Beards’ constitutes an if-you-like reboot for this splendid work that first appeared last May. The tubthumping yet languid 8-minute closer to McAllister’s album, frames a joyous statement of intent in the wake of a toxic relationship, presumably with a hipster whose identity will remain a mystery to all but those in the know. Ironically, the sentiment from ‘Beards’ can also double as a message for us all when, touch wood, we emerge from this most forgettable of winters and start to savour doing all that shit we, for too long, took for granted.

Defiant curtain raiser ‘I Am A Woman’ blends McAllisters' sultry fuck-you sisterliness with the southern blues of Zeppelin’s ‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’. In ‘Love You From Afar’, Jess betrays her mischievous side, the twinkle in her eye almost palpable on a vaudevillian ode to the Bungalow Bills of this world, reminding me of Voice of the Beehive’s ‘There’s a Barbarian in the Back of My Car’. 

‘Courage/Fear’ perfectly encapsulates the emotional rollercoaster experienced by so many in the past year, the new-age tinged and carpe diem inspired title track reminding the listener that life is short. McAllister’s words ‘Wasted time can never be reclaimed’, surely resonating whilst lush strings wrap themselves around the outro, reprised later with the record’s most haunting and doubt-laden moment.

In a world full of singer songwriters,’ ‘Courage/Fear’ keeps you listening and guessing more than most. McAllister’s fragile yet feisty vocals contain plenty of versatility whilst her adept multi-instrumental skills, more than ably assisted by Abi Crisp, Matt Gordon, Jake Miller, Lucy Piper, Joe Duddell, with Michael Mormecha at the controls, make ‘Courage/Fear’ a rich and welcoming listen, just the thing for your Sunday morning.

Words - Mike Price

Jess McAllister bandcamp