With nine previous albums to his credit, Jay-Jay Johanson is well established as an artist in his own right. Nevertheless, chances are that a fair few will be compelled to check out his latest album on account of Robin Guthrie’s appearance on here: the former Cocteau twin co-wrote, arranged and produced ‘Scarecrow’, which is unquestionably one of the album’s standout tracks.
Throughout the album, downtempo trip-hop beats and crackling static atmospherics drift through hazy melancholy, with Jay-Jay creating grainy black and white and sepiatone scenes full of longing, aching. A mournful harmonica floats across Johanson’s heavy-lidded falsetto croon on ‘Drowsy / Too Young to Say Goodnight’, which sets the album’s dreamy tone.
The album’s 11 tracks add up to a slowed, down, sedated set in keeping with its title, and it’s really rather nice.
Jay-Jay Johanson Online
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