𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 – this week: Are We Lost? – J.H.M

Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙒𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙩? – 𝙅.𝙃.𝙈

Charles ambles aimlessly…

“I’m not the only one”… I said this last week after suggesting I might be a naive dreamer. One commenter noticed my Carpenters pun and therefore assumed that the “I’m not the only one” line was also a lyrical reference to a certain Liverpudlian. It was in fact complete unintentional coincidence. I’m simply not the only one. That was all I meant. In terms of these song reviews within the community, though, I have always been the only one. It has always been me and my thoughts. Me and my favourite songs. Until recently. The last month has seen a new addition to the New Artist Spotlight in the form of an interesting (and potentially quite cool) concept. Artists reviewing artists. As well as my continued weekly musings, there have been two new song reviews per week, where any artist on the NAS can pick any song by any other NAS artist, and review it. It’s a simpler affair than my absurdly detailed ramblings, and gets right down to the music from word one. A more traditional review. Which, of course, is lovely for all artists picked. Something for them to post on their socials; something to make them smile.

So far, the picks have been most diverse; both old and new, known and not. The very first I was pleased to see. Our very own resident NASian, J.H.M, known to his friends as Jeff. The review was written by Arnoldo’s Lizards. It was warm for me to see both reviewer and reviewee, as they have both previously been cornered in my Corner. I was doubly pleased Jeff’s song (‘My Open Hand’) was picked, because I hadn’t reviewed it, and he deserved that spotlight. The song subsequently became a pop smash on the NAS Hit Parade. One week passed by, and I thought no more on the matter. And then I opened my Apple Music, only to discover that J.H.M had quietly (secretly?) just released an album. Well, it’s eight tracks at 26 minutes, but let’s call it an album. Because it’s his very first. Despite putting out music since 2020, he had only released singles and EPs. Never an album. So this was big news. His debut album! I listened straight away on my Monday listening trawl. I couldn’t really afford the time, but “needs must”, as they say. This was priority listening. I was thinking “Right, well at least I know WHO I’m reviewing, it’s just a case of which track”… Then I remembered that previous week’s review. Remember, NO one knew this album was coming. As far as we all knew, there was that one song, and that was it. So this review was not to be a taster for the album to come. Nevertheless, the existence of this review meant that I just COULDN’T review J.H.M – no matter how much I wanted to. Eight great tracks, and yet I had to ignore them all, in terms of my weekly writing. Bugger.

The good news is, some other lucky artist got to take his place that week! The bad news was that this debut album lay there, released to the world, with so few knowing of its presence. This sour knowledge has sat with me for three weeks. Festering like a right festerer. And so, here I am, breaking my unwritten rule of not reviewing an artist previously reviewed within a few months. How often does an artist release a quality debut album? How often does an artist release their debut album?? Okay, that one’s easy: once. And just knowing that he can never do the first one again, I couldn’t just ride it out and wait for the next. An album is so much more than a collection of singles. I mean, it can be literally just that, but that’s not what we think of when we see the word “album”, despite that initially being the very reason for the “album”. Did you know it was originally an actual album (called a Record Album), like a photo album? A book of sleeves that held vinyl singles? It was only in the 50s that the album as we know it, was born. And now you know. Anyway, I digress. You certainly don’t get any of this digression in these other reviews. It’s music, music, music. So, back to the Jeffster. This album. It’s called ‘Gone’. And it is anything but gone; it is Here!

I see and hear a running theme. The LP is called ‘Gone’. One track is called ‘If You Take It All Away’. Another track is called ‘Don’t Let Go’. And the track I will be focussing on is called ‘Are We Lost?’… Are YOU seeing the theme, here? It’s quite bleak… But bleak with hope. Realism with the prayer of change. The album title is the only title that sits firmly in the negative. The rest are more like “It will be awful if…” – or something. Quick digression – it’s why you’re here – ‘J.H.M’ I have recently been rhyming with Ahem. It amuses me. Digression over. For me, ‘Gone’ is seven great tracks, followed by one stunning conclusion. It has the sound of a professional finale. One reason I picked this track as my fave, is because it’s the best sounding (few would deny that), closely followed by the penultimate track (‘Don’t Let Go’). You all know I tend to pick tracks that are recorded and mixed well – it makes for a better listening experience, no matter the quality of the writing. But speaking of writing quality, this is what Jeff is known for. He writes quality songs that feel like they have always been. Yes, there are moments where you’d swear he had Chris Martin, Noel Gallagher and Tom Chaplin (of Keane) by his side, but ultimately Jeff has carved out a signature sound of his own. It’s commercial, yet so totally personal – sounds like an easy combo, but it’s not. “Commercial” usually means poppy and plastic – soulless. While “personal” usually means we can’t connect and it’s a bit draggy. Jeff avoids the negative, managing only the best of both worlds. He simply always has done.

‘Are We Lost?’ Is the question. If this is the feeling of being lost, then let me be lost. J.H.M poses a question unanswerable. But a question that conscious or not, we have all been thinking, as a species. Not HAVE we lost, but ARE we lost… We are not about to be made extinct (though it may sometimes feel that way), but we have perhaps lost the purpose of it all. We used to know how things went. There used to be a natural, unthinking process through which we would live our life. But quite recently something changed, and it feels as though there is a cold air between us all. A singular isolation as we automatically disconnect. While we used to live and love, we now plod and put up with. And so, Jeff wrote a song. A beautiful song, so full of this honest, innocent man. A passionate resonance, lingering long after it has passed. And I suspect this song to be the inspiration for the LP’s title.

Jeff has a voice that when described, should sound weak. But weakness cannot move one’s heart. It is instead fragile and genuine. Like a blameless man on trial for a sin he did not commit. All he can do is tell the truth. He sings not so much as a singer, but as a tuneful poet. The song enters with deep piano and sparkling acoustic guitar. Last week, I dubbed Jeff “the King of Strum”. Because I do believe that I have never heard a better strummer or even acoustic tone outside of the mainstream (where they have the greatest session musicians, guitars, studios, mics, knowledge and experience). Jeff really is the King of Strum. And that piano: golly! The depth and richness is, er, deep and rich, with eye-opening sustain. Verse one brings in the most tactful drumming, modest bass playing, and that voice we know and love. But his voice has never sounded so good. It’s wide and open, yet the curtains are drawn for warmth and cosiness. Our chorus (not really a chorus because the title is within a refrain just before the chorus which is kind of actually the chorus but not containing the words of the title because that comes beforehand – phew; ahem) brings more oomph. More oomph than one might expect. That drummer (Jeff) wants to inject a different kind of song – and it works, in context with the exceptionally layered electric guitars nestled to the right and to the left, just a little below the vocals – it’s modest maturity. There might also be a soft synth tucked in there for atmosphere, but it could easily just be another guitar with some velvet-soft reverb. Towards the end of the song, Jeff sings the most inviting backing vocals; they’re yearning not to be lost. If you haven’t been able to tell by now, Jeff does absolutely everything on this song and album. Yes, even mixing. That ain’t easy, so hats off to the lad for this continued feat.

I implore you all to listen to the whole album.

The lack of the Jeffster can cease to fester. Sorry, mustn’t call him “the Jeffster”. It’s the King of Strum. Or J’-HM: you know the rhyme.

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