Every producer that ventures into IDM/electronica territory seems to have some sort of Achilles heel in the eye of the critic. For Mrs Jynx, otherwise known as Mancunian producer Hannah Davidson, it seems hers is a question of history. Much has been made over her particular sound being overly reminiscent of μ-ziq/Mike Paradinas’ output. The Standoffish Cat, her debut, certainly does reference these starting points but is so exquisitely crafted that it manages to transcend its influences.
Davidson has a talent for refining components into absolute forms; melody, composition and technical production are the ones that come to mind first and foremost across this album. ‘Dusty’ ventures down the arpeggiating synth route, a flurry of glockenspiel-like sounds curling their way around an incredibly pretty melody. And yes, pretty really does seem to be the correct term for a lot of the melodic output here. It’s bright and full of vibrancy, but never overbearing because of the deep, often dark basslines she employs. ‘Minor Down’ completely owns its melody, defiantly struggling against the chasms of the lower registers. ‘My Friend T3′ shows off that exquisite production with a deep, rich tone that permeates throughout.
For all the serious work though, there’s a cute counterpoint – literally. Take the whimsical song titles, from ‘Wooshgone’ to ‘Ice Pops’ which have an almost onomatopoeic quality, plus the cat imagery that pervades the cover and her artist photos. Combine this with the gentle flow of the album, which slowly but surely introduces in different ideas and sounds without overwhelming, and the result is one incredibly lush recording. Countless listens later, The Standoffish Cat is still as enthralling as ever. Pure, melodic hypnosis.
Alexandra Savvides
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