Album Review

Postcards from Jeff – Postcards from Jeff

• 3rd Mar 2014

Postcards From Jeff.

In the vast history of band and artist names and the mental imagery that is formed before a single note has even been heard, Postcards From Jeff hardly sets the blue touch paper alight does it? In fact I think it is already a safe distance back and possibly a little nervous about the loud bangs.

Although the name may evoke no more than a simple one-sided missive from a bearded man holidaying in the wind and rain of Southend-on-sea, thankfully the music speaks for itself.

The five track self-produced and solo recorded debut EP opens with A House, a light and breezy melody spurned on by a galloping drum beat, it’s main hook is the juxtaposition that rubs against the droning range of the vocal, it is indeed a strange combination that just about works and holds the sumptuous ditty together.

Some background info posits this as the work of a music producer, recorded in rural Yorkshire, recorded inbetween production duties for other artists, and as such the technical abilities are never in question, spilling over with a sound that recalls post-millennial Spiritualized, tracks like House Party and Weekends are rich in tone and, in particular, closing track Awake seems to reach further, aiming for somewhere more grandiose and epic but without being so obvious and contrived.

In it’s current state, Postcards From Jeff is an intriguing prospect, twee melancholy built upon synths and soundscapes with an occasional nod towards calypso, yet it is not always as engaging as you would wish it to be, but as a brief introduction to a new artist, the EP is a fine footnote with steady sense of direction that I hope will be explored and expanded upon with future releases

Venue: Postcards from Jeff
Support Band: Alien Boutique