Jessie Ware’s Devotion Makes 'Adult Contemporary' Cool
Rich Juzwiak · 08/25/12 09:00AMThe Internet breakout hit from the 27-year-old English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware, "Wildest Moments," abounds with drums that are almost identical in pattern and timbre to those of Enigma's "Return to Innocence." That 1994 smash is remembered for its aboriginal Taiwanese chant refrain, if it is remembered at all. The German cloak/sex/incantation-loving pseudo-dance act is about as relevant as the Druids it invoked. Enigma are the epitome of early '90s dance cheese. Jessie Ware, meanwhile, has released one of the buzziest debuts of the year, Devotion. Pitchfork gave it an 8.5. The BBC called her "superb." NPR has raved about her single "110%." She's been popping up on many a rock-crit/tastemaker Tumblr for months now. Jessie Ware is the cool artist of the day.