Untold Things

Jocelyn Pook’s glittering musical career has won her praise and awards in the pop and classical worlds; she has film and TV soundtrack scores, such as Brick Lane, dance music and theatre commissions to her name. Untold Things first saw the ethereal light of day on the Real World label in 2001. So how does it stand the test of time? Threaded through Pook’s intelligently creative music are samples and influences from around the globe: there are strings, psalteries, qanun and drumming in many styles. What is even clearer now, given the thousands of world music influenced albums that have appeared on the market since this album’s first release, is that Pook conveyed a sensitivity so often missing in albums wherein samples are cherry-picked adornments. Instead of over-produced clinical sounds, Untold Things has a warmth and depth. It takes the listener on a journey that is beautifully haunting and mysterious. Real gold? Definitely.