For those who have had the inexplicable pleasure of seeing Microwave Jenny perform live, that privilege will seem like a curse when listening to their EP.
The husband/wife duo remains adorable and talented, and the five-song record is catchy and cute, but somewhere in the production process some of the grit that make Tessa and Brendon Boney’s voices so sexy is gone.
It’s particularly noticeable in “Valium Whispers” where his vocals sound distant and her harmonies even more so. Perhaps this is to add a whimsical effect to the track but it detracts from what is essentially a gorgeous love song.
That sultry, gravelly tone returns to Tessa’s voice in the final song on the record, “Bada Bing” but this doesn’t justify its muting throughout other songs.
Of course, it’s a common complaint of many that records can never replicate the beauty of what is created on stage. So, negativity aside, production flaws cannot completely mask the sheer skill of this match made in heaven.
“When You Don’t Call” is a soothing, touching track that gives Tessa a chance to show the cleaner, but no less spine-tingling, element to her vocals. There’s “We’ll Be Fine”, which saw the pair singing the tune for guests at their wedding earlier this year
The first single from the album, “You Me Backseat” is a lot of fun and should encourage the development of a bigger fanbase; one they surely deserve.
