JJ, jj nº 3
The return of Balearic-infused pop, tender heartbreakers and breezy textures
On their last go-round, jj was an anonymous project on Sincerely Yours, the Swedish label home to such beach-obsessed acts as the Tough Alliance and Air France. Now, Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander find themselves unmasked and signed to prominent indie Secretly Canadian for their follow-up. Stripped of the cryptic persona that brought them notice, No. 3 instead finds the group relying on their Balearic-infused pop — tender heartbreakers with breezy textures — to make their name.
Opening with signature nonchalance, jj cover the Game's “My Life,” re-imagining the song with solo piano and Kastlander's breathy vocals, accentuating the lament laced deep in the original. Lead single “Let Go” mixes gentle, plucked guitar and waves of harmonica. Cynical criticisms of Enya-biting aren't entirely invalid, but No. 3 rises above washed-out new age, and their inventiveness is showcased in the album's clear standouts: “Light” and “Golden Virginia” show off jj's characteristic creative aplomb, and both songs balance a narrative of longing and regret with the slightest note of nostalgia. Throughout, Benon and Kastlander demonstrate an affinity for indelible hooks. They match shimmering beats with angelic vocals, and imported exoticisms that shape the foundation of their sound. Now that the mystery is gone, No. 3 is given space to stand on its own, simply enough, as a collection of beautifully textured songs.
