Jon Fazal - After Everything 
Release Date: Out Now
Apologies, dear reader, sincere apologies. The debut album from Plymouth based Jon Fazal has been out for a while now but I've been sitting on it for reasons I can only explain through procrastination. 'After Everything' is a simply gorgeous collection of songs so I will sit on them no longer. The album opens with the shimmering, dawn-like energy of 'Door Bell' full of crisp acoustic notes and a slowly emerging organ setting the scene for Fazal's humble but rich vocal to unfurl. The song blossoms into a huge anthem that sounds like Lennon and Badly Drawn Boy jamming in a sticky bar exactly half-way between Manchester and Liverpool. 'High Speed Train' has a more lilting country vibe to it with some sumptuous vocal harmonies while 'Magic Lantern Show' is a real road trippin' tune with rolling acoustic notes, world-weary vocals and a skiffle-inspired beat.
Fazal's voice has that everyman quality to it whilst simultaneously being utterly stylish and cool, a neat trick to pull off if you know how. 'Miles From Home', for example, has elements of David Kitt to it but also the roaming Americana of Springsteen or Dylan in their pomp. 'Lucy', by comparison, is more akin to Jake Bugg in its style with a dirty stomp of a beat and twanging guitar notes that give it a more urban feel. The organs and arrangement on 'Requiem' are, well, they are emotional and the switch between big arrangements and intimate story telling is disarming to say the least while 'Hangman' goes full country'n'western on our collective asses with rolling notes and the kind of beat that makes you want to hitch a ride to the nearest horse.
'Staring at the Sea' could sit comfortably on a Richard Hawley album and when the piano solo kicks in over those lush organs you'd better believe your neck hairs will be standing to attention. The penultimate track on this album is the epic 'Black Horse Road', taking us on a trip with a huge sound and a roaming arrangement. We finish up on the short but sweet 'Longing for the Wind', a simple but oh-so-beautiful tale of unrequited love with vocal harmonies to die for. As we head into autumn, this is the perfect album to curl up with and enjoy the rich, layered sounds like you're sipping a good red wine or a well aged single malt. Or a good cup of tea of you are not of the alcoholic persuasion.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/jonfazalmusic
Live Dates:
1st September - Bere Ferrers Quay
7th September - The Schoolhouse, Mothecombe
13th September - B-Bar, Plymouth
14th Sptember - Seafest, Plymouth
15th September - The Junction, Plymouth w/Jamie Yost + Kate Hall
19th September - The Millbridge, Plymouth