Seattle-via-Waverly, Ohio transplant Jordan O’Jordan is a self-described “Chatty Cathy”. This is evident by his charmingly off-beat lyrics, touching on topics as varied as fairy tales, science, the natural world, as well as grandmothers engaged in hilariously hateful feuds. Scientific references abound throughout his own unique brand of organic Appalachian folk pop. Informed by preoccupations as diverse as electricity, science, a capella singin’, showtunes and folk songs, he has crafted a patchwork quilt of the scientific and the sublime.
Multi-instrumentalist O’Jordan, plays banjo and percussion, while Bob Schwenkler helps out with miscellaneous effects. Schwenkler is also responsible for the recording and mixing of “Drawn Onward”. In his latest endeavor, O’Jordan has perfected his atypical approach to traditional roots balladry. In this world, there is no separation between the biological and the magical, one simply begets the other. Succinctly demonstrated in the excellent, “Sweet William And Lady Margaret”, O’Jordan demonstrates his ability to weave folk songs that can exist somewhere between Appalachian folk music and English balladry.
His refreshingly dreamy rendition of “Silver Dagger” is a particularly mind-blowing experience. It fits somewhere between “Déjà Vu” era Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young and Fleet Foxes. It stands as an ideal example of a cover song that transcends its origins and is given a diverse and deep nuance by a musician who is adept at personally investing themselves and their perspective into a song, thus creating something brilliantly original. Elements of the eclectic dynamism found in early tUnE-yArDs songs can be found peppered throughout, particularly in “Introducing The Scientific Method”.
With a confessional, autobiographical approach to song-writing more in the vein of Kimya Dawson than Joan Baez, Jordan O’Jordan is able to craft witty, irreverent folk-pop songs with a heart as well as a sense of humor. He is able to deftly straddle the line between pathos and humor. This is most expertly demonstrated in “Winter Solstice”, which tells of solitary strolls through wintry woods with a complicated friend whose friendship walks a thin line between friend and lover. Jordan himself has declared that much of his music deals with the complex “gravity of friendships”, and no better is that scientific exploration of the emotional interior more humanely explored. It is tender, yet not melodramatic, and a perfect accompaniment to wintry strolls through frosty fields.
Originally released in August, “Drawn Onward” is the ideal wintertime must-have, perfect for sippin’ Glühwein on dark snowy nights, and just as appropriate for late spring evenings under the stars, talking about biology and astronomy while sharing’ some dandylion wine with a very special someone. Whoever claims that the mystical cannot inform the scientific, will find themselves challenged by the magical, wonderous, and playful world of Mr O’Jordan.
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Jordan O’Jordan – “Sweet William And Lady Margaret”
Jordan O’Jordan – “Winter Solstice”
Jordan O’Jordan – “Pinecones”
