Lemon Jelly - lemonjelly.ky

Not everything that shines is gold. Sometimes it's shite :o( Well, to be honest it’s not fair to diss this triple EP-compilation without good reason. Firstly, there's obviously talented musicians behind, secondly, they have lots of ideas, and, thirdly, there’s an untouchable feel-good vibe to this album which cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, that very vibe is what is killing this album for me. There is NOTHING here to provoke a reaction or offend anyone. It’s chocolate with marmalade on sweet rye bread garnished with childish-happy samples and a this-is-modern jazzy approach I sense is aimed directly at the nouveau electronica followers: I’m in with the modern too! It leaves me utterly unimpressed and bored, though. And Air French Band has long since done this in a far more interesting manner. IMHO.

But the cover artwork is gold!

Lemon Jelly’s debut, .KY (actually a compilation of their first 3 EPs), is a full hour of fun, feel-good downtempo: think a slightly more organic Bent. They have a penchant for silly samples and bucolic melodies that make listening a real treat. Though the first two track slide down without much of a fight, “A Tune for Jack” really kicks things into high gear. A delicate and buoyant track, it swing and jives with all the charm of an old-fashioned radio. “His Majesty King Raum” is like a royal lullaby, while “The Staunton Lick” is a lesson in folk songs and grooves at the same time. “Homage to Patagonia” goes from calm to frenzied (although it seems to cut off oddly at the end); “Page One” is a slow-building track, slowly adding elements until it explodes (quite nicely) into a house-tempo kick drum. And finally, “Come,” is relaxation at its finest, a magical combination of elements (bass, piano line, guitar, short vocal sample) that sing sweetly together -- not to mention some of the best use of harmonica I've heard in a long whime. A solid collection all the way.

One of my very favorite albums of all time. Cheeky, quirky, sweet, yet somehow still totally authentic & sincere. Happy toe-tapping smile-making music with a great groove & rich thick production. A must-have.