June McDoom Revives Mento Roots in Follow the Light
The artist blends Jamaican mento traditions with acid folk and modern dub production.
1The Mento Musical Legacy
Mento is a foundational Jamaican genre born from African and European traditions, featuring banjos, guitars, and rumba boxes. Despite its historical significance as a precursor to reggae and dub, the style has become marginalized over the last seventy years. June McDoom seeks to revitalize this heritage through her debut album, Follow the Light.
2Family History and Influence
McDoom’s personal connection to mento stems from her grandfather, Colin Smith, a professional musician who played the banjo and constructed rumba boxes. Growing up, she absorbed these sounds at family gatherings while simultaneously exploring folk artists like Simon and Garfunkel. Her debut album serves as a memento of this specific family history.
3Bridging Folk and Dub
The album creates a unique resonance between Jamaican mento and 1970s acid folk, prog, and psychedelia. Rather than keeping folk strictly acoustic, McDoom applies electronic manipulation, utilizing spring reverb and spongy synths. This production choice prevents the music from becoming a static period piece, ensuring a contemporary feel for the listener.
4Collaborative Sonic Arrangements
Working with collaborator Evan Wright, McDoom builds arrangements around nylon-string guitars and her own vocals. She incorporates chamber-pop elements like harpsichord, flute, and harp, while Jamaican influences provide low-frequency depth and echo. The resulting soundscape remains balanced, avoiding overly fussy virtuosity while maintaining an organic, layered texture throughout the entire record.
5Deconstructing the Dub Sound
The track Human Angel demonstrates this crosshatching by layering dub sirens against triangle chimes and white noise. Similarly, Dream Dub highlights the interplay between classic dub rhythm sections and McDoom’s sonorous voice. When the bass drops away, her vocals hang amidst synthesizers, creating a physical, rhythmic pulse that defines the album's core.
6Vocal Poise and Texture
McDoom’s vocal style shares an affinity with Vashti Bunyan, characterized by maternal warmth and formal poise. However, unlike the reassuring nature of traditional folk, her music possesses an ebb and flow that feels more restless. Her arrangements remain dynamic, ensuring the dreaminess of the album never descends into an inert or stagnant state.
7Honoring Her Grandfather
The track Grandpa serves as the most literal exploration of her family lineage. Instead of covering a classic song, McDoom wrote an original piece featuring a voice note from her grandfather, captured on an iPhone. His deep, rumbling voice provides a stark, grounding contrast to McDoom’s sweetly lilting delivery on the track.
8Candid Lyrical Inheritance
McDoom’s lyrics are characterized by winning simplicity and directness, particularly in songs like Without You and Memory. She candidly considers the concept of inheritance, singing about her bloodline and the truths she carries forward. By merging her grandfather’s musical past with her own developing traditions, she creates a bridge between generations.
Original article: Pitchfork – Reviews — June McDoom Revives Mento Roots in Follow the Light