JAMIE YOST – EP REVIEW

Jamie Yost – Aurora EP 
Jamie Yost - Aurora EP


Release Date: 27th April 2018

South Devon singer-songwriter Jamie Yost is one of those musicians who wins hearts and minds wherever he plays with his combination of tenderly crafted songs and shy demeanour capped off with a winning smile. In between counting up his collection of hearts and minds, Yost has finally put together a debut EP and, well, it’s a little bit special so listen up, ya bums. The ‘Aurora’ EP kicks off with ‘All I’ve Ever Known’ in all it’s soulful, hungover glory. The gentle guitar notes of Yost are matched by a smooth violin and then, well, then there’s that voice. With no overstated histrionics, no stretching or straining and no showing off, Yost sings as he finds and it is smooth, warm and it speaks to your rawest nerve. By the time this song hits its Springsteen meets Gundersen stride there is a lump in my throat and a tear-sting in the eye – considering we’re only on track one, this could be a draining listen.

Recent single ‘Stay’ is up next and it sounds as fresh with the delay laden guitar notes picking up every chord change and again that voice is front and centre with a song that really should be picked up by a major Hollywood studio for use in a heart-breaking scene of a couple’s last night together before being torn apart by something terrible. Like war. Or a giant lizard from space. Title track ‘Aurora’ features an incredibly deep and velvety guitar on the typically understated verse but the chorus bursts in to life like the Northern Lights appearing over the horizon. The drums are sparse but perfectly so and the violin twists and turns like a poised ballerina – the whole combination is both wonderfully organic and impressively precision built like a German car that runs on hemp.

Jamie Yost - Soul Man
The EP comes to a climax with ‘Grace’, a five-minute odyssey that could be considered alt-pop if weren’t for the hugely impressive amounts of soul running through it. There are comparisons to be made but I think that would cheapen the experience of listening to a truly talented young man taking his time to craft and create something that’s worth your time. Blending folk, alt-pop, soul and a sliver of Americana, Jamie Yost makes music designed to unlock the emotions and soothe the open wounds so whatever ails you right now, get yourself some of this on prescription. Stat.



Live Dates:

26th April – The Millbridge Inn, Plymouth
27th April – EP launch @ Barbican Theatre, Plymouth w/Olly Parker + Roz Birch + Jack Cookson
29th April – Albion Pub, Liskeard
29th June – Inn on the Shore, Downderry w/Matthew Gordon Price
6th July – Glas-Denbury Festival, Denbury
18th August – The Vault/The Shed, Leicester
19th October – The Donkey, Leicester

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