Reviews

Jason McNiff
Album: 10 Blue Songs
Label: Tombola
Tracks: 10
Website: https://www.jasonmcniff.com/

Jason McNiff is a Hastings based artist and when he tells you his latest album is called "10 Blue Songs" they're going to be blue blues full of superb artistry and finely picked guitar from a writer / troubadour who gives real depth to every song in what we are told is an album of celebration. It certainly examines the human spirit with all it's hang-ups and foibles.

'Mornings Come' opens the album and is a classic McNiff song, heavily vocal lead with his distinctive voice, a mixture of passion and vulnerability. It's a voice made for songs depicting the person who is not on the winning edge of life. This is a love song of the love that never happened because our narrator is unable to create a meaningful relationship. There are some dark undertones.

'Nightshift Blues' has a more upbeat tempo and an original use of a jazz clarinet as backing. As a basis this is a story of a couple who work different shifts; as she comes home he leaves. It's a situation not unknown for a lot of people but in this he wonders what happens when she's got the evening free to enjoy herself without him, but not necessarily on her own. Of course, as in all the best stories, the real truth is left for us to decide.

Heading into more Country territory is an excellent cover of 'Fulsom Prison Blues' and this kind of song suits Jason's voice well. He doesn't have the gravel or hard edge of the Johnny Cash but it makes the character more human. There's a slight strain but with a sense of vulnerability to it, used to good effect in this story of a man who's gone wrong but hopes for a future. The finely picked guitar also adds to the song and the clarinet gives the essential train sounds.

'Whoever I Am' has a lusher sound, there's good diversity on this album, with strings and backing vocals. It also has a more hopeful message of somebody heading home and there's somebody waiting for him. It bounces along and is a lovely track.

As with all good albums, and this is a good album, all of the tracks hold in some way to the theme of human nature in all its forms. The quality of production is very good. It's a great of example of doing the simple things very well and not trying to overcomplicate things just for the sake of it. As I said at the start Jason is a troubadour; he lets his words do the talking and, in doing so, gets to the heart of every song. If there's one track that demonstrates this then 'Scared To Love' has to be it. The emotion of this song is very strong. Here's a man who wants to love but, possibly because of what has happened in the past, he's unable to. As he says "Am I scarred or am I scared". He wants to let go, to open himself up, but dare he take the risk? That's a deep concept.

This is an excellent album, his 10th, and an excellent addition to a back catalogue of high quality. The album is released 28th August with a live launch at The Crown House, St Leonard's, Sussex, on 16th September and also at The Green Note, Camden Sun 18th October and will also be available through Bandcamp.

Tony Birch

Previous	Next
Kate MacLeod's Mind The Gap: Home Brewed	Greg Hancock: Words Of Wisdom

Recent Reviews

Lover, Lover, Lover

Fatea Showcase Sessions

The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.

Corsair is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy

www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.

Visit The FATEA Archive!