Tessa Rose Jackson’s latest album, “The Lighthouse,” is a captivating exploration of grief, grace, and the enduring power of memory. Transitioning from her previous dream-pop sound, the Dutch-British songwriter delivers her most personal record yet, weaving a tapestry of acoustic clarity and emotional depth.
The album’s title track sets the tone, with delicate guitar strums, mournful woodwind, and thunderous percussion guiding the listener towards a beacon amidst the lonesome wind. Jackson’s lyrics, informed by the loss of one of her mothers during her teenage years, are both inquiring and poetic, tackling themes of ancestry, mortality, and the transformative nature of grief.
Tracks like “The Bricks That Make the Building” and “Gently Now” showcase Jackson’s ability to craft introspective, folk-tinged gems that delve into the complexities of growing older and the process of healing. Her assured yet never-smug vocal delivery captivates, effortlessly transitioning between delicacy and spirited, spoken-word passages.
The album’s poppier moments, such as the confident cousin-like singles “Fear Bangs the Drum” and “Wild Geese,” demonstrate Jackson’s versatility, while the shivering, percussive violin of “Built to Collide” is sure to entice radio programmers. Yet, it is in the album’s more stripped-back offerings, like the piano-led “Grace Notes” and the beautiful “By Morning,” where Jackson’s songwriting truly shines, evoking the timeless quality of a Paul Simon classic.
“The Lighthouse” stands as a luminous rebirth for Tessa Rose Jackson, a folk-infused masterpiece that transforms loss into something quietly powerful and profoundly moving. With this album, the Dutch-British artist has solidified her place as a compelling and introspective voice within the contemporary folk landscape.
