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JACANDA - BACK TO THE SKY
Ghost Of A Smile / Outside To In / Treading Water / Wheels
JACANDA MUSIC
Jacanda are a Bristol based four piece who make radio friendly folk tinged pop, not necessarily the hippest sounding band you'll come across, but possessed with a certain charm that's undeniable. BACK TO THE SKY is an EP that delivers simple pleasures - it throws up words like pleasant, relaxed and nice; usually a by word in bland and dull, but here presented as something more.
Jacanda inject their songs with some soul and conviction, raising them above the level of the likes of the similarly themed Dido and Jack Johnson. Singer/songwriter Chris Pritchett has a voice that handles these songs perfectly, a soothing presence that rides over the acoustic instrumentation with a natural grace - perhaps not that distinctive or individual, he nevertheless emotes with a soulful croon that's heart warming. A song like GHOST OF A SMILE finds him projecting with effortless calm, a convincing and graceful performance; likewise the lilting sounds of TREADING WATER and WHEELS repeat the effect. The addition of James Phillip with his soulful saxophone playing adds another dimension to Jacanda's music, transforming songs that in lesser hands would be dull into more intoxicating territory.
Nothing extraordinary or breathtaking here, BACK TO THE SKY is an EP that delivers little in the way of thrills or spills. Pleasant folk tinged pop songs spiked with warmth and heart, Jacanda may not be the most exciting band you'll hear all year but they at least do things with charm and grace.
BIOGRAPHY
Formed in Bristol in January 2006, Jacanda is a vibrant extension of Chris Pritchett's classic pop songwriting, calling to mind the memorable lyrics and melodic warmth of Neil Finn and Crowded House. Featuring piano, percussion and delicate acoustic guitar underpinning Chris' emotive and intelligent lyrics, from time to time the songs take on an extra burst of colour from James Phillip's sublime saxophone playing, described by two industry professionals as "the best we've heard in years".
BACK TO THE SKY features full production songs recorded from July-September 2006 at Lakeside Studios in Bristol, with the band's instrumentation complemented by sprinkles of cello, mandolin and bass, as well as James and Chris' glorious harmonies. The subject matter ranges from lost love and wasted opportunities (WHEELS) to the standout (OUTSIDE TO IN), which deals with the subject of death in a redemptive and uplifting way, before washing the tears away with one of the finest sax solos you'll ever hear.
LINE UP
Chris Pritchett
Kevin Hawthorn
Steven Beek
James Phillips
DISCOGRAPHY
BACK TO THE SKY (Jacanda Music>2007)
Ghost Of A Smile
Outside To In
Treading Water
Wheels
LINKS
Jacanda>www.jacandamusic.com
FURTHER LISTENING
James Taylor
Norah Jones
Angus & Julia Stone
Review date: February 2007 |
