Listening to Jay Clifford’s new album, ‘Silver Tomb for the Kingfisher’ is like being haunted by a friendly ghost. Through sparse production and elegant songwriting, simple observations of everyday life become whispered confessions. Lilting strings lift a meditation on the nature of love to ethereal heights. At every surprising turn, Clifford dares the listener to blink first, imbuing each song with an unflinching emotional honesty that is at once harrowing and restorative.
It’s a common thread that runs through all of Clifford’s work, including his long tenure as the creative force behind Jump Little Children. Though the band went on hiatus in 2006, their music remains timeless and relevant. Their biggest hit ‘Cathedrals’ (a top ten AAA single released in 1998 on Breaking/Atlantic Records) was used on the most recent season of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ of all places. Through its thirteen years of touring, Jump developed a ravenous cult following and became the unofficial musical ambassadors of their hometown of Charleston, SC. During this time, Jay also released two highly revered albums (self titled Rosebud and Vespers) under his Rosebud side project.
After Jump, Jay released his first solo album ‘Driving Blind’ in 2007. He is now most often found at his studio in Charleston called Hello, Telescope. His time there is split between producing other artists (most recently collaborating on William Fitzsimmons’ critically acclaimed ‘Gold In The Shadows’) and arranging and recording strings for other major label projects (Colbie Callait, Vedera, Caitlin Crosby).
Completely fan-funded, ‘Silver Tomb for the Kingfisher’ represents another daring step forward for this wildly talented singer/songwriter. The new album was released independently on September 13, 2011.
—Michael Flynn