Jackie Leven

If eclectic vocal projects grab you, this evident labour of love ranges from compelling covers of the Righteous Brothers to the poetry of Russian poet Marina Tsvetayeva. Producer/singer Jackie Leven plays all guitars, Chinese toy piano and percussion with a quirky edge that infuses lush torch ballads and blatant pop songs with daring electronics and unexpected codas. While stark acoustic ballads like "Your Winter Days" and "The Keys To The Forest" showcase Leven's art at its most unadorned, the gothic aura of "Paris Blues" and heavy rock crunch of the title track showcase a potent ability to refresh pop convention with inspired touches of audacity.