Jana Hunter Issue #26

Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom (Gnomonsong)

By Dean Ramos
Published: December 1st, 2005 | 1:06pm

If one were to get any closer of a look into the mind of Jana Hunter, they would literally see her brain. That’s how close of a look listeners get into Hunter’s innermost thoughts on her debut full-length, Unstaring Heirs of Doom. In fact, many of the songs here sound as if they could very well have been written completely stream-of-conciousness, but that’s not the only thing that makes this album so unbelievably haunting and memorable. There’s also her voice, which has this strange, desolate quality about it, but is not at all depressing. If anything, it’s more hopeful and even sensual at times.

Hunter also shows a real gift for keeping listeners wondering what she’s going to do next. She experiments with sounds and genres that result in unexpectedly engaging tracks, such as the delightful Southern church choir feel of “The Earth Has No Skin,” the string-laden “Heatseeker’s Safety Den,” and the stripped-down “Farm, CA.” The latter song is an absolutely gorgeous number that wouldn’t sound so out of place in the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. As much as she likes to keep her listeners guessing, though, the one song that absolutely no one will see coming is the closing number, “K,” a completely out-of-left-field electronic cut that’s almost danceable, and strangely enough, the most melodic of the bunch where Hunter’s beautifully stark voice sounds every bit at home as it does when it’s just her and an acoustic guitar.

As much of an insight Unstaring Heirs of Doom gives to Jana Hunter as a person, with thoughts as exquisitely beautiful as the songs presented here, let’s hope she’s willing to share some more with us some time soon.