Jennah Barry’s newest album is a triumph to behold. Holiday comes on the winds of great adversity, though you would never guess it from the dreamy atmosphere. Between major vocal surgery and having a baby, Barry has had lots of hurdles to jump in order to squeeze an album into the mix.
That being said, the result is much more effortless than you might expect. “The Real Moon”, where the album finds its name, has soft, jazzy notes that you might hear in the elevator of a resort hotel. The relaxed, tropical vibe bleeds into “Big Universe”, spreading its roots throughout most of the album. Indeed, Holiday is a fitting title for this album, especially considering the lengthy break that came before it.
That’s not to say it’s all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, Barry chooses to end the album on a more somber note with “Stop The Train”. It’s a reflective track about her pursuit of music that has an aching build with no payoff – which many would argue is how being in the music industry can often feel. Barry seriously strips back on production for this track and lets her vocals shine, particularly in the swells of the chorus.
Barry makes a lot of fun production choices on this album that really elevate the uniqueness of her sound. The whimsical opening of the lullaby “Are You Dreaming” is so visually compelling – you can instantly imagine blurring vision and the magical descent into dream land. “Pink Grey Blue” is quiet and contemplative for the most part, but the strings warp and build in the bridge into something classically cinematic.
Barry draws comparisons to classics like Joni Mitchell and more modern influences like Kacey Musgraves. Both comparisons are clearly recognizable, though Barry succeeds in melding those two sounds into something very much her own. The result is a whimsical daydream that would pair best with a tropical drink and a warm spot in the sun.