jaybeemusic

Found on Putney Bridge reviewed by Mark Taylor
What will you leave behind you? Thoughts, memories, fragments of a life?” The new album by Jaybeemusic tackles another question. How do you make an album that deals with life and being aware that you have only a little more time to live without creating music that is unbearably angst-ridden or laden with ‘I did it my way’ triumphalism? ‘Found on Putney Bridge’ manages to be none of those things and instead be funny, sad and original.
The understatement in the vocal delivery creates a lovely sense of intimacy and some of the arrangements are really quite startling. The beautiful patchwork of sounds on ‘To Live in the Moment’, gentle saxophone and earthy harmonica emerging out of an ambient backdrop of synth and pedal steel, the severity of the first section of ‘Jump You Bastard’ that turns on a piano figure into the unsettlingly rousing chorus. It’s all beautifully judged and contains enough sand against silk to keep things unpredictable.
It’s the lyrics however that mark this album out as Jaybee’s best. He’s always been a fine lyricist but this contains long stretches of brilliance. Jaybee mentions in the liner notes that the words come ‘via Karen’ but the arrangement and construction of the lines are his, it is all his ‘voice’. And I love the voice in ‘There is Inspiration in Everything’, almost like the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland. The touching and then unapologetically pervy voice in ‘I Love Nipples’.
 It should, somehow, be all too sad. There are times when the reality of cancer makes you flinch (‘The Glums’, ’ Found on Putney Bridge’). But there is so much humanity here, so many stories that concentrate on the daft stuff that happens to us that you feel somehow that life has found a way to succeed over tragedy. There you are death, you thought you’d won but you were wrong.
Quite often, you read about an album that is supposed to be a return to basics. Putting song-writing first, creating all the music with the help of nothing more than an acoustic guitar and some awful (but fortunately inspirational) experiences. And then you look closely and it’s smoke and mirrors. The acoustic guitar used to belong to Bob Dylan and it was recorded at Abbey Road, the songs were co-written and fluffed by a gang of steely pros. ‘Found on Putney Bridge’ is the exact opposite. Beautiful, intimate but ambitious in so many ways and it’s the work of one man. It’s a thing of wonder and you should listen to it.

 
Jaybee Gets His Horn(s) Out: review of Wanderlust by KP Wilson
Produced, written, played and sung by the multi faceted jb from a garage deep in the heart of southern england a musical mash-up of dreamy visceral tunesscapes that bump n grind along with some fatback soul that melts and swoons.
Turning Blue  kicks off with some low-down funky horns as jb’s laidback vocals glide effortlessly throughout...
The lovely country/soul feel of The Sweetest Lie  creeps up on you like your favourite pet snake. It slithers into a dream-like state of consciousness that you find yourself humming after only a few listens. Next up is Enigmatic. We can all relate to a lack of communication which this rock-steady number addresses. jb pleads to his unrequited love. The catchy chorus which is reminiscent of The Inkspots and The Platters doo wop vocal style gives bite to this bluesy backbeat of a song. A thumpin bass introduces us to Sinner and i want to put on my soul shuffle shoes, a groovy beat with the added enhancement of Zoe Bennett’s gorgeously ethereal vocals....’I’m a vessel of lies, lies, lies,’ gives us an idea of the lyrical content....darkly humourous. Sinner’s a winner. Wanderlust - haunting bluesy guitar opens this track which confronts our dilemmas and decision making.....’are we doing the right thing here?’ ‘Wanderlust was the ruin of me’ sings jb and you know he means it. Together Again - A poignant love song that deals with the challenge of heartbreak. jb’s vocals are full of longing which gets under the skin.....a real grower. Nice fade out too. Haunt Me - a couple of delicious blues guitar breaks complement this soulful tune. There’s definitely a retro feel going on which ain’t no bad thang. The Philly influenced Get By is a slow drift of a song that is embellished with jb’s anguished vocals that keep coming atcha..... Float On kinda sums up the feel of this album.....atmospherically ambient with a soul twist. If this is your musical stew then this is for you listeners. I’ve already got the pot on the go and I’m-a-soul stirring y’all.

Great synthpop, 5 stars: review of Sweet Savage by John Paul Immordino, USA
As an artist myself on cdbaby, what else would I buy or look for in another artist??.............an original artist, an artist who can think outside the circle, an artist who is daring, an artist who does whatever she or he feels, an artist with a unique quality about their music, an artist who is to be remembered and doesn't sound like just (another artist)............that artist is Jaybee and here is a cd with a catchy but slightly dark, slightly upbeat, slightly slower, slightly happy and almost a feeling of living in south America with an unheard of music scene of great music!!! Sweet Savage is a very listenable little stack of tunes, like synthpop mixed with almost an African feel...........defiantly worth the buy if you're looking for a unique and unforgettable time. To be listened to time and time again and each time I know it's going to sound better and better!

Yee-Hiiii: review of Sussex Cowboy by Deebee, Sweden
Have had Sussex Cowboy on heavy rotation on the car cd week. It's me fave Jaybee release to date. i love it ! Love the cover...scissor sisters meet sgt pepper, and a really great idea for the overall album concept. i like mostly everything but especially Oskar and Eli, Brokeback Mountain, Turn Me On, Cowboy Blues, Virginia Woolf, and Old Timer. Stand-out track though is Conquistador. which is absolutely gorgeous and goes straight into my fav top 3 Jaybee songs of all time. It reminds me of Desperado by the Eagles. A really beautiful song...i'm stunned! Production is great throughout and the whole album hangs together really well. I love all the arrangements and instumentation. and I'm amused by all the samples...wolf howls, john wayne dialogue, battle scene din. Lyrics of course are top drawer as always. A big YEE-HAW !!!