Kismet (meaning "Destiny"), is the debut studio album by singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop. It was recorded at the Zeitgeist and Barefoot Studios and released in the US in September 2007 on the RED Ink Records label. "Discogs" Entry for the album on Discogs.com, accessed June 27, 2014.
Background In advance of the launch, Kismet EP was released, featuring tracks "Seed of Wonder", "Enemy" and "Money". "Intelligentactile 101" was also available to download prior to launch."stereogum" Newsdesk, 'New Tom Waits's Nanny – “Intelligentactile 101″', Stereogum, June 21, 2007.
According to Hoop, many of the songs on the album were "quite old". In one interview, she explained that "Out the Back Door" is a combination of, "Probably early '20s Jazz, or '30s and '40s maybe, and Hip-Hop. I love that combination. Actually, I wrote it years ago, and then the movie, Idlewild, came out and it kind of reinforced my concept in that arena". Donald Gibson, 'An Interview with Jesca Hoop', Blogcritics, October 10, 2007.
When asked if she had an overall sound in mind when writing the album, Hoop replied, "The main criteria were to maintain a true dynamic of small and intimate and then more fantastical. So in order to create more of the fantastic, we tripped the songs to make them a little more rhythm-based. And then we indulged in sound effects and things like that. We wanted it to be really playful".
In a review of Kismet for AllMusic, Jo-Ann Greene wrote, "Santa Monica fell under Jesca Hoop's spell in autumn 2006, making her "Seed of Wonder" the most requested song in its local radio station's history. Hoop re-recorded it for her debut Kismet album, with assistance from Stewart Copeland, whose complex, ever-shifting rhythms enhance the number's uniqueness, sliding it toward hip-hop here, prodding it into a Native American dance there".
Track listing
Personnel All personnel credits adapted from Kismet's sleeve notes.
Vocals – Jesca Hoop Guitars – Jesca Hoop, Blake Mills, Tony Berg, Roddy Cabello, David Baerwald Bass – Ian Walker, Blake Mills, Sam Farrar, Cedric Lemoyne Keyboards – Patrick Warren, Tony Berg, David Baerwald Drums – Matt Chamberlain, Stewart Copeland, Quinn Smith, José Pasillas Mandolin – David Baerwald Wind Instruments – Patrick Warren, Frank Lenz. Vibraphone – Frank Lenz Harmonium & Zither – Tony Berg Shamisen - Yoshida Brothers Piano – Sasha Smith Accordion – Patrick Warren Programing – Damian Anthony Technical personnel Engineering – Damian Anthony, Shawn Everett, David Baerwald Additional engineering – Eric Valentine, Gabe Butler, Jake Davies Mixing – Shawn Everett Production – Jesca Hoop, Damian Anthony, Tony Berg Mastering – Brian Gardner Design Art direction – Jesca Hoop, Dave Bett Illustrations – Alex Berg, Claudia Kunin, Nicholas Rubin Design – Christina Rodriguez Photography – Frank Ockenfels, Damian Anthony (cover), Dan Parker (inside)
References