Valerie June - The Moon & Stars : Prescriptions for Dreamers

 

The singer's voice is often the marmite factor with certain artists and bands. What do you think of the voice of Robert Plant? Michael Stipe? Kate Bush? Stuart Staples? Nina Simone?  Captain Beefheart? Tom Waits? These will impact on us all differently and decide if we want to keep on going in terms of our listening experience.

The marmite vocal factor has definitely been key to me in deciding what I think of the new Valerie June album, the marvellously named The Moon & Stars : Prescriptions for Dreamers over the last couple of days since it came out on Friday. I love its textures, I love its melodies, I love its mood, I just can't quite make out what I feel about June's voice. At least I couldn't at first.

I've liked previous records of hers. She's certainly a talent and this particular album seems to be getting more attention than anything she's ever done. It's a bigger and more ambitious record at any rate. June is Tennessee born and it sounds it. This definitely sounds like Southern Soul but not in the way Soul sounded in '67, even though there is a delightful and quite special moment on the record where Carla Thomas guests.

This is more of a Space Age Soul record. Sun Ra seems to be every much of an influence on what goes on here as Otis. There's lots of space on the record for June to inhabit and she does so masterfully. But the voice?

I, not unlike Henry Higgins, grew accustomed to the voice. It's certain not a conventional instrument, reedy and raspy rather than smooth and silky, perhaps Eartha Kitt is a better pointer than Aretha or Gladys. But after a few plays,  the voice slips into the mix and becomes just one more ingredient in a rather heady and intoxicating mix. This is a very good record and one I strongly suspect that will become better with every listen.

These songs kernels are those of classic soul ones. But June is a smart enough operator to keep it contemporary and relevant. The Moon & Stars : Prescriptions for Dreamers feels very much like a 2021 record in wake of recent events. It's also a proud and defiant one which lays down its ground rules and sticks to them admirably.