This is a song cycle that acts as a travelogue and a homage to Juana's adopted home of 10 years, California. And there’s much to admire on the album, not least of which is her beguiling voice
At times, Everett sounds reminiscent of Linda Ronstadt, perhaps it’s the Hispanic influences, at others, she sounds like the very talented Dawn Landes, but she has a wonderfully emotive voice all of her own, and other powers, of which the writing is foremost. Having uprooted sticks from Madrid, in search of pastures new, she faced many challenges in the new land, challenges which helped shape this collection.
Opener ‘Bring me back’, sees the singer question her life choices, with perhaps a touch of homesickness –
“Home again, I see the memories of yesterday.
My mother’s eyes smiling slowly when she calls my name
Early spring, all the bees and birds are singing outside
I feel the breeze, going downhill on my sister’s bike”
Sent to a breezy west coast vibe, it’s a strong start to a wonderful album.
In truth, there is so much to admire here. However, my favourite track features one of my favourite artists, the sadly under-appreciated Dylan LeBlanc, who provides delightful backing on the lilting ‘Whatever it takes’
“This is our home, and we make it every single day
Whatever it takes, pretty baby, you can count on me
Every single day, whatever it takes”.
It’s a simple message of love prepared to conquer anything and everything that life may throw. Each song is a little short story that adds to the journey, and the album is best enjoyed as that road trip is, in sequence
There are admirable highlights in the swampy ‘Roulette’, the possible bank heist of ‘One Million dollars’, the agony aunt advice of ‘Your worst enemy’, and sung in her mother tongue the rather beautiful ‘Donde todo se Queda’, which translates from my rusty O-Level Spanish as ‘Where everything stays’
You can almost hear the Pacific Ocean lapping on the tracks.
The album comes highly recommended to all who enjoy melodic storytelling sung with a quite lovely voice