Judee Sill - "Heart Food"

A única "beijoca" que os sentidos recomendam é a da grande Judee.

Just when I think that there is nothing else to dig in rock's glorious back catalogue, I am now and then struck by another of its best kept secrets. Such was the case with Nick Drake whose work was oblivious to the masses until about ten years ago and who is now celebrated as the quintessentially English singer-songwriter of the modern era. And now is the case with Judee Sill, an American folk singer-songwriter from the 1970s whose short-term career has now been re-issued on Rhino. Her second and last album "Heart Food" (1973) is my best musical discovery this year so far. Her music has been described as "country cult baroque". It has hints of Joni Mitchell circa-1970 but also the symphonic ambition of Brian Wilson at his best. It has familiar elements from the West-Coast folk scene from that era but it is kept apart from it by the deeply religious overtones of the lyrics and the complexity of songs and arrangements. She often mentioned Bach as an influence and you really have to take her seriously.
I won't give you a fully detailed, track-by-track account of "Heart Food". But if you have the chance to listen to it in a hurry, go straight to track 2 called "The Kiss". It is a brilliant, complex, layered masterpiece which feels like a prayer when you listen to it. It is a deeply moving song so be prepared to jerk some tears as your emotions ride slowly along its exquisitely elegant melody.
Judee had a very troubled life and died of a drug overdose in 1979 not having released any music in the previous six years. You can read more about her here.