Jay-Jay Johanson
Poison

THE REVIEW

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!