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Rating:
In its own interesting and original way, this "Poison" from 2001 is a notable work.
Jay-Jay Johanson has crafted a melancholic and introspective album, borrowing (then) current and "cool" sounds and rhythms (trip-hop, dub, and the like) and blending them with melodies that evoke the 1950s (C. Aznavour, Brassens, Piaf, etc.) with a vaguely jazz flavor, all supported by his poignant and delicate voice, often reminiscent of the timbres of Morrisey or Marc Almond, just to name the first that come to mind.
Overall, there's an air of dark and melancholy resignation, an ideal soundtrack for a black-and-white b-movie (the Hitchcockian reference on the cover might not be coincidental) or a gray, rainy afternoon viewed from a window streaked with raindrops. Let’s be clear: nothing extreme or desperate here, certainly not an invitation to suicide but rather, perhaps, to take things with detached lightness.
I then lost track of him, except that the day before yesterday, at my trusted "musical pusher," I happened to listen to his latest CD on sale (10€) and I didn't like it at all: it seemed to me to be the same downward spiral that Jimmy Somerville went through, with one or two good works and then nothing. A common fate for many singers and bands, even those deserving rediscovery or at least "bringing to light" for future generations. Will anyone ever review these "hidden gems"? If anyone joins, let me know; I'm in!
Tracklist and Lyrics
03 Keep It a Secret (04:26)
You know I'm not a single man But anyway you think you can Come up to me and make a try By saying make this a night to remember What you said to me What you did to me What you wanted me to do What you said last night When you came up tight What was I supposed to do I don't know what made you believe My simple heart could be so weak That I could fall for your offence In saying make this a night to remember What you said to me What you did to me What you wanted me to do What you said last night When you came up tight What was I supposed to do Don't worry, don't worry You know my lips are sealed
10 Suffering (04:49)
Autumn is here inside my heart
When there's springtime in the air
Loneliness is tearing me apart
Being lost makes me scared
I keep on asking the gods above to send my love back to me
Oh please let these days and weeks
Pass by so quickly
Nobody suffers like I do
Nobody else, oh no
Nobody suffers like I do
Nobody else but you
You had to leave, I know
And we knew it would be tough
You said you would be back soon
Soon is not soon enough
Through this waiting in vain
All this darkness and pain
I've been crying for you, now I'm dying
When this test is at the end
I hope you'll understand
That you're all that I've got
Oh darling
13 Far Away (04:41)
Far away, once so close But now you're far away You're still here with me But not like yesterday, so far Far away, I hear you breathe But you're so far away Once so colourful But now all turns to grey, so far It's oh so strange When centimetres feels like miles Seconds like hours Now it's true love has died No more roads left to try, far away Far away, long ago When love was here to stay Now it's gone It doesn't matter what we say, so far Every word is like a knife But the silence cuts you twice
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