June/July 1995

by Chris Sharpe

Seems a pretty safe bet that The Ozzies will be claiming our Jan as their own any time now! This follow up to "It's My Sin" was recorded over there, in Melbourne where Jan has been based for the last year or so. Perhaps its the environment, or just the simple passing of time and gathering of experiences that has added so much depth to her music here on "Tremble".

Music that is complex and edgy, certainly not designed to be easily come-to-terms with. But it's not just in the music, Jan is using her voice in ways we've never heard before. The tonal versatility of Sinead O'Connor comes to mind as a model, as does another Irish Star, Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries. But it would do her a disservice to labour the comparison; she doesn’t stay with any familiar vocalisation long enough to infer she is copying anyone.

Lyrically too, "Tremble" goes into darker and murkier territory that before, exploring not emotions so much as the haunting stuff of the mind’s recesses that’s addressed mainly by poets, depressives and film makers. Fitting then that "Manic (is a state of mind)" should be the first single, and the album’s opening word is ‘sorry’.

The backing band is the bass, drums and guitar of Warwick Factor, Wayne Bell and Martin Nightingale respectively. Always there with interesting tones and rythms, but rightly seconded to the voice of Ms Hellriegel who also plays guitar, piano and jingle bells! Producer Daniel Denholm uses other guest musicians too, notably a small string ensemble of violins and cello which Jan also helped arrange.

There’s nothing at all shaky about "Tremble", it represents a significant step forward in a career which looks increasingly assured, if Australian.