Jordan Reyne: Passenger [2004].
Trains, planes and sampled transport sounds (predominantly the S-Bahns and U-Bahns of Germany) feature throughout and add to the unsettled feel of the album: someone who cant settle in one place and is constantly chasing ghosts.

"Passenger" features a blend of found-sound, composition and pre-recorded samples. Most of the field recordings were taken in the Hauptbahnhof of Karlsruhe, Germany - a town where there is a type of train for every musical key.

Jordans fourth Album "Passenger" is about searching for meaning and coherence from chaotic events. The album is the story of a journey. The traveller imagines there is some logical progression towards an end point but at the same time, she suspects that she is simply being buffeted around by events over which she has little control.
Although we all look back over the events in our lives to try to see how they fit together to rationally/ progressively bring us to where we are at now – there is no deliberate order at all. The passenger in Reynes album experiences the complete lack of coherence or direction in the events that surround her. Attempts to look back and give some structure fail. Attempts to move forward seem equally fruitless in the absence of a clear goal: she is simply responding to stimulus as it arises. The Passenger tries to come to terms with the random nature of existance, but cant quite abandon the hope that it is all for something.

Reviews

"A story of a journey, both metaphorical and actual, where lives are spent as citizens of a chaotic planet and Jordan ’s love of ethereal, dark moods and poetic vocals are a compelling listen... you realize that you have been drawn into an original work of art". Radio New Zealand.

"A sonic construction of subtle electronic and quiet keening melody.. this is the music and lyrics of dislocation where war infiltrates from the past and the present, of that hollow place between dark thought and helpless inaction. Thats what Reyne does - and in an extraordinary way, more than just a songwriter, Reyne is a rare one indeed". The New zealand Herald. 4 Stars. Top 5 for 3 weeks.

"File your copy next to iconclasts Eno, Bjork and Sinead". New Zealand Musician.

"Evocative and deeply personal lyrics. Reyne is so good at balancing industrial darkness with her inner folky that the results are never less than compelling". Nick Bollinger for National Radio.

"Passenger" is an album for the drifters and romantics in the world. For those of us who follow whims and dreams - and brave the nothing. jordanreyne.com.

Personnel: "Passenger" was written and performed entirely by Jordan Reyne with technical input by johnnychrome (Chrome Fetishe©). Engineered by Jordan Reyne (pre-production/production) Simon Holloway and Shane (Beaver Studios - Post Production). Mixing by Simon Holloway and Jordan Reyne (Beaver Studios). Mastering by Simon Holloway. Album Artwork by Jethro Lentle. Webdesign/EPK and photo-manipulation by johnnychrome webdesign. "Passenger" was made possible by Creative New Zealand and is available through Jayrem Records (NZ & Australia) and Mediatrix Publishing (Darkwave Networks Internationally).