Packed with eleven kaleidoscopic pieces, ‘Was It Real or Was It Just Me?’ marks the latest album by musical visionary Jana Tyrrell. We use the word ‘visionary’ with intent, as the London-based producer and songwriter is far from your average artist. She’s a musical jaggernaut, an electrifying composer who blurs the lines between genres and moods. ‘City Psychedelics’ is a vibrant example of that, a fitting counterpoint to more melodic offerings such as ‘L.E.O.’ and the cinematic-leaning title track.
While Jana’s music makes it very interesting to focus on its sonic qualities, one must not discount the cryptic and observant lyricism that hides behind such a striking record. At times dystopian, at others evocative, ‘Was It Real or Was It Just Me?’ is Tyrrell’s answer to the chaos of our times, an oblique way of dealing with the ever-rising anxiety of a global catastrophe. In that sense, the album is a true cathartic offering.
Sharing the creative ethos that propels her music, Tyrrell explains: “I love to experiment with sounds, altering patches and banks on synth modules and manipulating guitar pedals to provide disconcerting atmospherics.” This is a crucial point in Jana Tyrrell’s artistic explorations: she’s always looking for a new formula, never settling on a specific style or aural palette. That’s also why the few collaborations on the album are so varied, from jazz drummer Rick David to electronica producer Shy Yamaha, as well as hardcore band This Be The Verse.
Recommended! Discover ‘Was It Real or Was It Just Me?’, out now via My Pet Flamingo: