By Simona Mihalca Jinjer have been active since 2008, current singer Tatiana joined in 2011, and to be honest we only really started to care around 2016, when they hit the wider public after winning the Best Ukranian Act award in 2013 (and thus getting enough resonance over time). At that time, which against my best judgement is over 11 years ago by now, I Speak Astronomy was virtually everywhere, even though the later single, Pisces, was probably my most streamed performance (in the live version) of the consecutive two years. Their uniqueness has kept dragging fans and casual listeners alike, and it has to be admitted they were on the road for the longest time, both as main and support acts, in small acoustic venues and huge muddy festivals.
What has been fascinating since their debut, is how they manage to get such melodic, captivating and groovy sounds while switching with huge class in between clean singing and growl. Their stage presence is nothing earth shattering, but the main vocalist jumps and swings like a cricket (pun!): they are an overall fun show. Their newest album has been greatly anticipated, though they have been already putting out different Eps in the past years. A smart choice from my point of view, as they quite always managed to stay true to their own hard and reggae trademark mix.
Duél, released just a couple of days ago, starts off with quite honestly a banger, the heavy, poetic and metaphoric Tantrum. It is fitting as the over art seems to come out of any hysteric breakdown from the violence that it refers to. You will find yourself singing along to it quite soon, but it is worth reading the lyrics, as they have never been apolitical. The band has been outspoken about the Russian attack that had as victims their friends and families: the pain, anger and frustration are quite in the forefront in the first song.
Tumbelweed is the fourth track and opens with clean vocals that depict a dark fairytale and cottagecore habitat, dreamy and desperate at the same time. It is really melancholic and I found it the imagery evocative and well connected to the next song, Green Serpent, which also starts off with clear singing and contains high notes and smells of the forest. Leaves, grass, trees and earth are often evoked as well as green, thick glass and an overall touching halo of alcohol addiction, which makes it way too relatable. You even get a nice, sweet and delicate riff so you can better overthink your past (?) choices. The Bible reference is uncanny to me but then again I was raised in Italy.
The seventh piece, Dark Bile, is a neat piece of poetry, controlling borderline abusive relationship with the Self and the Other. It is nothing too strange for Jinjer and, while I think it is a decent track, I do not find it to be as innovative-yet-continuative as the others in the tracklist.
Next is Someone’s Daughter, the safe-bet single they released this past summer. The lyrics personally eviscerate me and the riffs scratch my brain, I loved it since my first listen but somehow it gives off a Pisces vibe (which is fortunate for me as it was my favourite for the longest time and a fun coincidence, me and Tatiana are both Pisces). It is not the feminist anthem they intended it to be, but it ain’t bad and it gives a refreshing, touching perspective.
Closing the album is Duél, heavy, fast and angry, giving life to the words which clearly reflect the world’s (especially Jinjer’s, Ukraine) downfall, pain, hate and violence with grotesque yet effective description of an actual gun fight. I am pretty defensive of the idea that most of their work is a veiled-or-less-so reference to the concept of war and then, sadly, to the reality and pragmatics of it.
The whole production is interesting and well inserted in their discography, after live shows and Eps – they are all following the same fil rouge, and sometimes, in between the more experimental or new songs, it may feel like they are repeating themselves. Differently from other bands, though, they are still saying something of their own: it shows in their choruses and in the expressive performances: their hearts are in it and I am glad to be listening.
Review written by Michela Sereni