ALBUM REVIEWS
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ALBUM REVIEWS |
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José James
BLACK MAGIC BROWNSWOOD RECORDINGS 22.02.10 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
Well it’s finally happened. Given the myriad of different genres and styles that adorn these pages I suppose it was only a matter of time. Yes – that’s right; I’ve been sent an experimental jazz album. Excuse me one moment while I clamber out of my indie-rock comfort zone in an ungainly manner. This is James’ second full length effort following 2007’s ‘The Dreamer’, since then it seems he’s been slowly building a burgeoning reputation by touring around the world, and working with many respected and like-minded contemporaries. ‘Experimental jazz’ is probably too interesting a label to give this album, as it’s much drearier than that attempted pigeon-holing sounds. The album exudes smooth, silky and yet bizarrely soulless soul – it’s surely a paradox that soul music can be lacking in the one element that should define it. There’s obvious song-writing skill and craftsmanship at work here and the production quality is flawlessly polished. But I spent most of the time while listening to the album either becoming distracted at more pressing matters - such as if the work stationary cupboard had been replenished with a new stock of post-it note pads yet or pondering to myself why I find this type of music so bland and uninspiring. After feeling bored and somewhat jaded throughout most of the tracks on this album; salvation and an answer to my conundrum arrived in the form of track 11 ‘Love Conversation’. It begins in much the same vein with James tediously crooning over a slick, moody intro – but then from stage left in comes a surprise guest female vocal. A quick check of the album sleeve indicates that the track features one Jordan de Lovely – what a great name, surely that’s made up?! Whoever she is, she provides a dusky sweet vulnerability to the track, which it gives it a much edgier feel than the rest of the album. The penny drops then that I find female voices much more engaging when backed with this kind of music, than their male counterparts. Perhaps it’s that they can convey a greater range of emotions, or simply sound much sexier, and I hope that’s not being sexist. To finish us off once and for all we’re treated to a hidden bonus track of ten minutes of extended piano noodling just to give us that true jazz club vibe. However, I’m afraid that this is less black magic, and more the Milky Bar kid. www.myspace.com/josejamesquartet |
