Album Review

Jon Allen – Deep River

• 18th Jul 2014

Jon Allen is an acclaimed singer-songwriter with a voice perfectly suited to emotional songs. His rich tones are expressive and the whisky soaked catch in his vocals works perfectly on the slower acoustic numbers. Deep River is his third album, and this is the best yet from a performer who can count the likes of Jools Holland and Mark Knopfler as fans.

Blending folk rock with just a hint of blues, Allen has produced twelve fine new songs. His lyrics bear some study: there is a depth to his words as well as to his voice. Although that is perhaps no surprise as Allen studied songwriting at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA), which was founded by Paul McCartney. And there is a good musical range on the album too, with a number of faster songs featuring some good guitar work here as well as the expected acoustic tracks.

The title track is one of several fine slower tracks on the album, indeed it could be the archetypical Jon Allen song. Strong, tender vocals sit over some fine acoustic guitar and when his voice soars on the chorus there is real feeling displayed. Lady Of The Water is another stand out, and a very different track. This one has a beautiful slow and almost mystical tone. It sounds like a very old tale yet the song has a modern feel to it. Wait For Me is also very good, a fond reflection on missing someone special and it works very well.

The first single from the album, Night And Day has a soulful edge, while the jaunty Hummingbird Blues could be an outtake from Eric Clapton’s Unplugged acoustic album. Falling Back, a song about the end of a relationship, has a lovely melancholy tone and the vocals are backed by a delicate piano melody.

Fire In My Heart is perhaps the best of the electric tracks, a love song with attitude and some great bluesy guitar licks. Loving Arms also has a fine guitar part and a female backing vocal adds a nice contrast to Allen’s soul tinged vocals.

Jon Allen is an accomplished songwriter and musician and Deep River gives a good demonstration of the range of talents he possesses. Equally adept at acoustic and electric tracks, he has a distinctive voice and uses it well to deliver his emotional lyrics with a real touch of style. The end result is a very good album.

Venue: Deep River
Support Band: Monologue Records