Relying heavily on the funk gospel, Amnesia Jones’ debut self-titled album is sure to get listeners up and dancing. There’s an endearing lo-fi quality simmering just below the energy and sparkle of the eleven-track release. It’s warm like an old record player.
Jazz breaks and compelling big band vitality are enhanced by a slight Fishbone quality. Amnesia Jones is also reminiscent of the late great artist formally known as Prince, just without as many lyrical hooks. His vocals in Hate Machine, in particular, echo Prince’s dynamic style.
A pleasant ebb and flow with extended build-ups, well-crafted guitar solos and horn stabs work a treat throughout this album. Switching between upbeat and more sombre offerings, most of the tracks will translate well to the live stage.
There’s a lot to choose from but my favourite song would have to be Creature Calling. Alternate chord progressions, lyrical longing and an eye watering trumpet solo enrich laid-back rhythms that set the mood nicely.
Putting his audio engineering skills to good use, Amnesia Jones brings a depth of musical maturity that punches well above his age bracket. His splendid vocal range and clever song arrangements display a decent amount of originality, which can only come through long hours of dedication to his craft.
Sure, not all vocal shifts and guitar bends are absolutely perfect, but this doesn’t detract from the musicality of a most excellent first release. Amnesia Jones has hit a home run in both performance and home production with his debut album. Make sure you check it out today.
After the typical post-high school band breakup and a quick stint at an audio engineering school, Amnesia Jones quit his dead-end retail gig selling guitars in Auckland, New Zealand. Ditching the rat race to move even further from civilization, settling in Waihi Beach.
Building a life on wheels, including a shoebox-sized home studio, he went to work creating a self-sufficient, self-sustaining sound. Keeping everything “in-house,” contrary to the twenty man songwriter teams prevalent in these last twenty years. In typical Kiwi DIY fashion; “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”
Also contrarian, dropping an entirely independent debut album in February 2019, unknown and unannounced. Amnesia Jones hopes to break through the haystack.