Tess Wiley & Her Orchestra
"the energy you keep" (EP)

   ( 1999 Crashkurs Records )

   (English review version)

With "The Energy You Keep" Tess Wiley released her first own CD after "only" putting out demo tapes and songs on compilations and to be heard playing with some other bands (Sixpence None The Richer, Phantasmic, Velour 100). Regarding to reasons of getting married Tess moved from Texas to Germany and there she also found a home at an indie label. So her new live band ("Her Orchestra") consists of all German members, too! As the cover artwork suggests the music here is somewhat avant garde, has sometimes a bit of melancholy in it but is always straight forward guitar driven rock-pop. All this is bound together through Tess' characteristic voice which perfectly fits the mood of the songs. What a pity that there are only four songs on the record - I would have quite enjoyed a lot more of such stuff! ;-)

Where I have some problems with the EP are the lyrics. These "codes" are difficult to understand, sometimes a little bit confusing thoughts but all in all innovative poetry in comparison to other artists in that genre. I didn't found "Christian" messages in the songs. It's just not so clear what Tess will say to us with her songs. Is it just some simple love songs or where is the deeper meaning?

And another problem is the short playing time. Why not releasing a full album after years of great songs? Maybe we have to wait a lot more month or years to get some great music from Tess?!? So we hope the label will buy enough copies of this...

The verdict: Lyrically and musically just a bit more crazier than Tess' former band Sixpence None The Richer. No misapprehension here fans of Leigh & Co. will love this ep! - The energy you hear or what?! ;-)