The Secret Life of Cinderella
Review: 2008 NewWitch Magazine
Mysterious, beautiful, fey, elusive?all of these words describe poet-musician Jessie Haynes' new CD, The Secret Life of Cinderella. This lovely CD is a work of art from start to finish?from the magickal
collage liner art, to the poetic power of Haynes' lyrics, to the delicacy and artistry of the instrumentation. In fact, this musical "fairytale"?I think back in the 70s they would have called this a "concept album"?is a fully conceived and lovingly executed multimedia
work about the power of imagination as the true source of magic.
It's no surprise that her songwriting and vocals are reminiscent of Suzanne Vega, while some songs have the same trippy Renaissance flavor as very early Pink Floyd.
Jessie Haynes brings her considerable skills and talents as a musician, singer and poet to a project that must obviously have been a labor of love: it is so richly drawn and emotionally diverse. Haynes
sings, and plays guitars, bass, keyboards, recorder and percussion.
"The Secret Life of Cinderella" ranges from gentle acoustic folk to heartfelt, gritty blues. Her sweet soprano is deceptively delicate on songs like "Beyond the Wishing Well" and "Sister", where the interplay of her voice, soft guitar and powerful lyrics is nothing less than heartbreaking. "The Rowan Tree" is a dark-toned instrumental, redolent of autumn fires and rising mists, and "You and Eye" is a stunning evocation of the Dark Goddess ("She can take us through the Dark") that just gives me goose bumps each time I listen to it. Things heat up a bit on "Fortune Surfer," a sexy, bluesy stomp which expertly pairs Jessie's fey vocals with a restrained but evocative guitar and
bass line. Here more of a driving rock edge comes forward and Haynes performs with passion and swagger.
Haynes' The Secret Life of Cinderella is a beautifully conceived, produced and performed CD, a lush work of art.