Stories From The Crooked Room

number 31 records  www.jonamor.com

It’s unlikely to be made into a Hollywood blockbuster film, like ‘I Was A Fugitive From A Chain Gang’ or ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ but your scribe could legitimately claim the lead role in ‘ I Was Jon Amor’s Loop Pedal’….he having bust his FX gadget, Mr Amor accepted my offer to be triggered for guitar chord patterns at his recent solo show at Barnes. At that show Jon did preview some of the material  he was working on for this release and now here is the cd.

I am hardly neutral re this artist, since from he started his own thing when The Hoax had a break (they are are still friends) it struck me that he was brave enough to mix genres and try something fresh and more personal or individual when he could have been Blues Guitar Hotshot No. 987.  Doubtless my support has jinxed his very existence, but I mean well !

Besides having a healthily snappy band to work with, Amor does many solo/acoustic spots in which he knocks songs into shape. Hence these selections include arranged versions of songs you may have heard at any of his performances, adding a surefooted ambience that pure studio creations would not muster.

‘Enemies & Foes’ showcases his very distinctive vocal delivery against jaunty countryfied guitars and an insistent guitar figure worthy of Robbie MacIntosh the ex-Pretender and McCartney axeman. The martial tread of ‘Stitch In Your Party Dress’ is a total contrast, a tale of seduction with catchy chorus ; much closer to John Prine in spirit than yer Joe

Bonnamassa’s but Amor’s voice never attempts an Americana whine. A 6/8 excursion on ‘The Rules’ has echoes of the great Amor band but nonetheless may be recent song I suspect. Sounds like a set closer with band intro’s to these ears….

The Creedence feel of ‘Cut Through The Graveyard’ twangs into life and lyrically makes no attempt to cover this bloke’s basic blackheartedness. Well, I call it ‘realism’ –  an essential part of the modern man’s psychic armour. Ain’t no survival these days without maintaining a hard core to yer soul. Sixth cut ‘Rain’ exemplifies Jon’s art, down to earth but heartfelt and let’s hope Bonnie Raitt covers it ! Stranger things have happened, and after all Robert Plant played harp on one of Amor’s earlier longplayers.

Perhaps it’s ‘Beautiful Trouble’ that shows off the Amor pipes best, the tempo change isn’t expected yet the song flows. Would that Coldplay and the laughable Primal Scream wannabes Kasabian could compose and arrange with this elan.

His folkiest album yet, but effortlessly contemporary and sparking with electricity when it counts.

Pete Sargeant      www.fairhearing.co.uk