Recorded by Brian Hewson at Escarpment Sound, Belwood, ON and at Jennisound, Guelph & Toronto, ON by Dennis Gaumond and Jen Gillmor.
Tracks 12 and 13 recorded live by Gabe Etele at The Artword Artbar, Hamilton, ON
Produced by Jennis
Mixed by Dean Drouillard
Mastered by Jeff Elliott
Graphic and Web Design by Jennifer Gillmo
Jennis: The Mirror, 2019
The sophomore album from Jennis is called The Mirror. It is a collection of original songs, except for a ‘Jennisized’ version of a Bob Marley song – Get Up, Stand Up. They contain elements of blues, jazz, reggae, rock and exotic/world textures, which are typical of Jennis. Generally, the new songs are a bit punchier than the first album, with Jen on cello, didgeridoo, bass, flute and vocals, and Dennis on vocals, guitars, dobro and harmonica. The Mirror includes contributions from guest artists such as Cécille Doo-Kingué on guitar (track 10), Tannis Slimmon and Shannon Kingsbury on back-up vocals, Tom Wolf on drums and percussion, Oisin Hannigan on bodhrán (track 9) and Chris Dahmer on organ and accordion.
Lyrically, the songs address a variety of topics. The title song, Sneak Past the Mirror, is about how we all feel like youngsters until we catch a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror. You Never Know is about how we can’t predict the future, but it is also about how knowledge itself is an elusive butterfly that is beyond our grasp. Too Much Stuff is a playful commentary on consumerism. Other songs contain social comment, spiritual observations and acknowledgement of reality’s all-pervasive underpinning of love. The general tone of the lyrics is thoughtful but light-hearted, inviting the listener to ‘look in the mirror’ and to take inventory of what is truly important in life. www.jennis.ca
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