Jon Allen
Dead Mans Suit
The singer-songwriter world continues to bring us the average, the overblown, the clones and clowns. And their hats. As it ever did. But when you hear a set like this new album by Jon Allen, you know it’s always worth giving everything a (ahem) fair hearing. The songs are fresh, punchy and reflective in equal parts, damn well-played and arranged. They are capable of sounding good just with guitar, vocal and harp rack as Jon recently proved opening for Hey Negrita at London’s Borderline. And in organic approach, edge and tenderness though NOT in any way the vocal phrasing or tone, they do evoke that golden period when Rod Stewart started recording ‘own’ material and song choices with bandmates and other pals. There really is a roots-aware-but-looking-forward feel about these songs and they way they are played. They make you smile, think and tap your feet.
I think I may have seen Jon first January 2007 ?on a bill with Lucky Jim. Since then he has written a load of songs, some of which he has already recorded. The title track of this set has everything – an arcane lyric, crisp rhythm, keyboard counterpoint, drumming time tricks and an excellent vocal all over a strident guitar thrash. It’s catchy, radio and set-friendly and frankly is worth the price of purchase alone.
When I interviewed Jon I asked whether there were covers on the disc as some of the titles looked familiar – ‘Down By The River’, ‘Friends’, ‘Young Man Blues’ but no they are orignals. ‘In Your Light’ is a lighter and again radio-friendly love song that sound utterly sincere, what a great rasp in the vocal and its captured well here. ‘Happy Now’ is a semi-melancholic almost French melody and worldweary lyric and fabulous chorus which sets Allen’s voice off to great effect against mournful slide figures and steady tambourine. This sort of song underlines the fact that Jon Allen has little in common with the Blunts, Nuttini’s and Morrisons and is working in fact much closer to John Prine or Steve Wynn.
‘Take Me To Heart’ out-Taylor’s James, wonderful melody and arrangement just right and so close to prime-time Faces. ‘Lay Your Burden Down’ was his Borderline opener and worked a treat ; ‘Young Man Blues’ has a twinkling electric guitar chordal setting and rich keyboard. A haunting gem of a song. Allen’s Dylan penchant surfaces on ‘New Year’s Eve’ but his tuneful voice makes it a tender ballad of regret and with a Byrds-tinged arrangement that fades too soon.
What Allen is doing is crafting something entirely of his own, from traditional elements. You should catch on to him now, I humbly suggest and watch a major figure get the respect he deserves
Pete Sargeant www.fairhearing.co.uk
