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Nicki Jaine's deep, percise and bittersweet voice smolders under the spotlight here. Enunciating every jaded, vulnerable syllable, she is unafraid of stiffing up a little drama. Jaine accompanies herself with traipsing saloon-style piano, guitar & slinky cabaret-style rhythms. Many of her songs evoke a torch singer's air of isolation on the stage, wearing her heart on her sleeve. Knowing that everything changes and evaporates when the lights go up and the spell wears off. Darker pop songs like "Pigeon Named Crow" and "Octopi" flirt between resignation and the light at the top of the well. "Antarctica" is the most minimal and most intimidating track, building tall walls with the guitar an scaling up and down on the keys. Nicki Jaine's originality as a songwriter, along with her senses of humor and gravity, do justice to her unusual voice.
4.5 stars
By: Carolee
Gothic Beauty Magazine
January 2005