In the early 21st century on the bustling streets of New York City, Jennifer Vanilla is a container, a portal, a joy delivery system, a self help regimen, a social mirror, a Times Square celebrity, a shark-toothed advertiser, a kicky talk show host and an ebullient mascot.
Collaboratively crafted with co-writer/co-producer Brian Abelson (who also releases music as See Other and other aliases on labels Toucan Sounds and Sorry Records), Jennifer Vanilla’s debut full length Castle in the Sky is a deft and mercurial “jennifreaky” journey, traversing 90s dance music, no wave, post-punk, art pop, new age and experimental R&B.
“Consider this an invitation, I’ll be your guide,” Vanilla beckons on the album’s “Take Me For A Ride,” which, like much of the album, is driven by their nimble and virtuosic vocal delivery. Variously steely, theatrical, sensuous and authoritative, Vanilla’s vocals harken the sparkling precision of Ann Steel, the growling tenacity of Laurie Anderson and the wispy tenderness of Shelley Duvall in Faerie Tale Theatre.
Jennifer Vanilla performances often are exercises in the transformation of reality through fantasy, testing the limits thereof, while the songs of Castle in the Sky are an artifact of that laboratory. Many of these songs took on numerous incarnations over the course of years before arriving at their album form, mutated in direct response to audience reaction.
A year after the initial release of Castle in the Sky via Sinderlyn Records, a vinyl edition of the record arrives on December 1, 2023. The LP is accompanied by a digital expanded version of the record featuring remixes and reworks from Jerry Paper, musclecars, and Love Injection.
credits
released December 1, 2023
Written and Produced by Jennifer Vanilla and Brian Abelson
Guest Vocals by Elsa Brown
Mixed and Engineered by Brian Abelson
Vocals Mixed by Ronnie Stone
Mastered by Sarah Register
Cover design by Luca Venter
Characters by Dang Olsen
Members of the Philly punk, experimental, and classical scenes come together for dreamy, Bill Frissell-esque folk improvisations. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 28, 2024
“The Best of Fortnite Vol 1,” featuring a tracklist of player favorites, is finally available digitally & on vinyl exclusively on Bandcamp. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 25, 2024
MMO game's transportive score marks yet another victory for composer Gareth Coker ("Ori and the Blind Forest," "Halo Infinite"). Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 16, 2023