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For years now, Mary Jane Dunphe has been at the forefront of exciting underground music with acclaimed releases in projects like Vexx, CCFX, Gen Pop, County Liners, and more. Today, the New York, NY-based musician has begun an exciting, new chapter with the announcement of her debut solo album, "Stage Of Love," via Pop Wig Records. "Stage Of Love" showcases Dunphe's versatile songwriting, coalescing, pulsating drum machines, shimmering synths and guitars, and her singular voice in ten highly danceable avant-pop songs.
Our take: Stage of Love is the first solo album by Mary Jane Dunphe, whose voice you might know from Vexx, CC Dust, and Pinocchio. I liked those projects, and when I made the connection that Pinocchio had the same singer as Vexx and CC Dust, I realized Mary Jane is a musician whose work I needed to follow closely. While Mary Jane’s voice is arresting, what I like most about those projects is how they’re all just a little left of center; her music has a fine artist’s way of challenging the listener and pushing against expectations, and while that isn’t for everyone, it’s for me. (I know many people thought the Pinocchio EP was a head-scratcher, but it’s one of my most played records of the past several years.) While perhaps Stage of Love synthesizes what Dunphe was up to in previous projects, to me it sounds like another big step forward, charging into fresh sounds and genres. I can’t help thinking about Kate Bush whenever I listen to Stage of Love. Hounds of Love is a decent enough sonic reference point for much of Stage of Love—in particular, the way the instrumental textures are rich yet synthetic—but it’s more the general approach that reminds me of Kate Bush’s best music, how it always seems a little unfamiliar, even uncanny, without abandoning the straightforward pleasures of pop. Stage of Love is a very diverse LP, though, with “I Know A Girl Called Johnny” evoking 70s glam rock in its lyrical and musical themes and the chiming, pastoral-sounding “Moon Halo” making me think of the Smiths. You never know what’s coming next, but it’s all brilliant.
Our take: Stage of Love is the first solo album by Mary Jane Dunphe, whose voice you might know from Vexx, CC Dust, and Pinocchio. I liked those projects, and when I made the connection that Pinocchio had the same singer as Vexx and CC Dust, I realized Mary Jane is a musician whose work I needed to follow closely. While Mary Jane’s voice is arresting, what I like most about those projects is how they’re all just a little left of center; her music has a fine artist’s way of challenging the listener and pushing against expectations, and while that isn’t for everyone, it’s for me. (I know many people thought the Pinocchio EP was a head-scratcher, but it’s one of my most played records of the past several years.) While perhaps Stage of Love synthesizes what Dunphe was up to in previous projects, to me it sounds like another big step forward, charging into fresh sounds and genres. I can’t help thinking about Kate Bush whenever I listen to Stage of Love. Hounds of Love is a decent enough sonic reference point for much of Stage of Love—in particular, the way the instrumental textures are rich yet synthetic—but it’s more the general approach that reminds me of Kate Bush’s best music, how it always seems a little unfamiliar, even uncanny, without abandoning the straightforward pleasures of pop. Stage of Love is a very diverse LP, though, with “I Know A Girl Called Johnny” evoking 70s glam rock in its lyrical and musical themes and the chiming, pastoral-sounding “Moon Halo” making me think of the Smiths. You never know what’s coming next, but it’s all brilliant.