Are We There Yet?

Your knowledge of the Swedish quartet, Jettie, may not win you any bonus points at your next game of Quizzo, but their music may seduce you with its mellow, melancholic sounds. Heading for Mornings, Jettie’s first salient compilation, is defined well by its name. In searching for its hook, a full and beautiful sound is shaped, however waned by the lack of something bigger. Heading sounds as if written as one long cut and then unnecessarily dissected into 10 tracks. Topped by airy guitar and piano, the lone sound on Heading features a static rhythm section evenly spaced across the beat. The vocals blend inside themselves, which, in turn, blend with the music. The product, while atmospheric, feels watered down. While generally audible and understandable, the lyrics require a certain effort to discern; an effort never to be rewarded for within seconds the combination becomes a drone.

“The Angel of this World” opens with a mini drum solo creating the most upbeat start on the album. Equally unique, the rhythm leans more heavily on the backbeat allowing just this one piece to rock. “One Dance” represents the bulk of the album; it’s pretty and dainty yet repetitive and uniform utilizing an overall sound that’s inconsequential. Covering nearly 11 minutes, “At the Cross” opens slowly and chooses not to build, but rather repeat the same chorus continually. It’s the perfect chill piece to a more boppin’ album, but it’s too monotonous for Heading.

Jettie’s latest is recorded well and displays solid musicianship, despite lacking the variety needed to engage an audience and hold them track after track. They’re heading somewhere, but they’re just not there yet.