Molly Bancroft's name has been linked to a constellation of female pop stars. There's Sarah McLachlan, the sensitive remix princess, and Suzanne Vega, master of erratic pleasantness. There's also the very indie Beth Orton and her calculated mix of style and soul. All of these touchpoints make good selling points for Bancroft, but dropping their names is no more accurate than comparing her to George Michael. Such comparisons only tell you that Bancroft's voice is high, thin and girly, but also flexible; she can hit lower-octave notes like Michael and the other girls, and she can wrap her tongue around one word in 10,000 different ways.

As with every talented artist, though, Bancroft has no single talent that's precisely the same as someone else's. She carves each syllable and note into a sound all her own. Her voice is a genuine gift that would get high marks on any Star Search program, and she takes it to another level. Rather than dragging her notes out like a wacked-out Whitney Houston, she delivers short, sharp phrases with emphases in unexpected places. Her skills prove most effective when she's matched up with the dance music that dominates Get Closer. Dusty Springfield and Kylie Minogue have fit well with the Pet Shop Boys, and so would Bancroft.

She also cherry-picks effectively from her past experiences. From her former band, Lift, she borrows Joan Jett swagger for some effortless snarls and meows. She deftly employs her jazz experience, too, treating each song like a group of elements she can organize however she damn pleases. Like a scat singer, Bancroft swoons over moments that seem randomly selected, but always conveys love for her material. She stands apart from other great Friday night cool-down music because her vibe is all about infatuation; this is not confessional Nick Drake material, but she plays it with the same intimacy. Her quiet approach might be another inspiration for all those McLachlan comparisons, but the material is far different -- the angst is more manageable, and there's a better emotional balance. The highs and lows are more attuned to a healthy person's own sensibilities, making the music more approachable. Whereas Bancroft's peers seem willing to stab themselves in the back, if only to get your attention, Bancroft possesses a shocking confidence that builds upon her gifts. She opens her mouth and encourages you to Get Closer, and she knows that you will. Her music is love with a healthy heartbeat.
-- Theodore Defosse
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Stong vocals with good harmonies. The production on her CD was well done. It's was nice to listen to a vocal with that doesn't have alot of effects on it. I would recommend this CD to a friend. Good Job!!
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Hands down, this is the best CD of the year!
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