Judee Sill
's debut album (as well as the debut of the
Asylum
label) heralded a major new talent in the airy, contemporary
folk
world of the early '70s. The album employed the production skills of
Sill
's ex-husband
Bob Harris
, as well as ex-
Turtle
, ex-
Leaves
Jim Pons
, and
Graham Nash
(on the album's sole single,
"Jesus Was s Crossmaker"
).
featured all original compositions, many of which relied on
's own brand of cosmological Christian imagery to make their point. By turns spare and lavishly orchestrated, there is still a cohesive feel to all of the album; her lyrics are exceptionally poetic (to the point of being almost flowery) and her voice is smooth enough to bear heavy overdubbing with itself, giving every song a shimmery feel. The essence of the music is
, the execution
pop
: the songs feel like a comfort blanket, a statement of hope from a troubled soul. ~ Alex Stimmel