In a non-descript back-lot studio near the downtown fairgrounds, long-time collaborators Taylor Hildebrand and producer Byron Knight, of Sneaky B Records, have forged a beautifully melancholy treasure has that may confirm your faith in the Jackson music scene. In fact, the two have managed to create as pristine a snapshot for this period of local music as you will likely find. It is a bittersweet capsule to a bittersweet time.
You may be familiar with Hildebrand from his bands Horse Trailer and Passenger Jones, and with that reference, you will likely feel right at home with "Nena." The songs have his rootsy signature and powerfully soulful voice. Even with the densely woven instrumentation, his lyrics are projected with clarity and emotion, giving each song resonance.
"Nena" centers on themes of conflict and separation, and the thesis is the haunting "Man at War." Hildebrand tells of a man returning from war, finding a wife who did not wait on him. Oceans away, he ponders: "Will she be there / to put the coffee on, or make love if I am able?"
"Demon of June," punctuated by Jamie Weems' mandolin, tells of how certain seasons can dredge up painful ghosts as he sings: "These days I sit here missing you / but you're a stranger, a sick feeling." Hildebrand knows how to twist the knife and make you feel the familiar sting of loss. And, at his best, he can make you feel things you've never experienced.
"After the Fall," perhaps the strongest track on the album, feels like being in your last moments and looking back at times that mattered. An intricately layered waltz, it builds instrument on instrument until Hildebrand softly sings, "One last long breath I'll be breathing there with her, in a peaceful time."
It is my suspicion that one day, we may all look back upon our lives in such a way. Ehen we are nostalgic for this moment of our lives lived in Jackson, "Nena" could be the catalyst to bring the deluge of sweet recollection.
"Nena" is still in post-production, and its release date is "sometime soon." To learn more about Taylor Hildebrand, including the release date for "Nena," visit his Facebook page.
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