Just Jack – ‘Overtones’ (Mercury) Released 29/01/06

‘Overtones’ is the eagerly awaited follow up album to Just Jack’s 2002 effort ‘The Outer Marker’ and the progression the 27 year old Camden wordsmith has made in the intervening years is immediately clear for all to see. Described as a people watcher and a poetic observer, Just Jack’s contradicting musical dichotomies illustrate a broad spectrum of influences and pits dark lyrical moods against warm melodic ambience. A love of electro, knowledge of house culture and intimate understanding of diverse cultures and ideologies combine to make ‘Overtones’ the immensely and immediately sing a long and danceable album that it undoubtedly is.

Mixing dark moody bass lines with upbeat ‘70’s disco funk, Just Jack’s effortless vocal drawl drips from the album like paint from John Travolta’s celebrated ‘Saturday Night Fever’ scene. The opening track ‘Writer’s Block’ gives off an instantaneous urgency where by you feel personally invited and deeply honoured to enter Jack’s private club. And what a club it is, packed to the rafters with the beautiful people who enjoy veering from the mainstream but staying close enough to a well-trodden path so as not to get lost along the way. And whilst not a private members club by any stretch of the imagination, there’s certainly an acknowledged dress code.

Constantly mixing up brooding backing with buoyant oral duties, it’s unfair to draw lazy comparisons with other artists, but think Mike Skinner’s vocals meets Jamiroquai’s musical sensibilities, pile on a whole load of creativity and individuality and you’re on the right track. The swirling ‘Glory Days’, “I tip my cap to the world even though I don’t wear one” to the crowd pleasing and infectious ‘Starz In Their Eyes’ and contagious ‘No Time’ illustrate Jack’s gift for communicating the trials and tribulations of everyday life. At times melting and melancholic, ‘Mourning Morning’ at others haunting, lamenting and inspiring ‘Hold On’, ‘Overtones’ is a kaleidoscopic melting pot of determined styles and ideas. Jack’s vocal dexterity is never in question, seemingly able to mix and match the slow paced remarks and musings of ‘Disco Friends’; “She’s got a whole lot of disco friends, disco ladies and gentlemen, eating their faces from the inside out, freaky dancing ‘til the late a.m.”, at times uneasy, at others soothing; with up-tempo catchy rapping ‘Life Stories’ and regardless of the changing tempo ‘I Talk Too Much’, there’s an implicit level of trust where you cant help but put your musical life in Jack’s more than capable hands.

Every bit the good time party orientated soul that Jack is, it’s both interesting and impressive to see how Jack adapts his gift to deal with contemporary subject matter. Reflecting his own life experiences, his music is most certainly the work of a man who knows how to identify with and deal with people of all ages, races and religions, hence his widespread appeal. Instrumentally it’s not just disco ridden guitar, funk infused beats and eclectic electonica as you may expect if you take this artist at face value. Violins, softly picked acoustic guitar, piano and trumpets are all utilised to good effect by a man who is in complete control of his craft. ‘Symphony Of Sirens’ and ‘Lost’ “I tip my cap to the world even though I don’t wear one, Just to be Just Jack, just that and still intact” serve to illustrate the point perfectly and with ease again underlining Jack’s diversity.

All in all it’s a fantastic album, mixing urban chic with vibrant disco funk vibes, one that grows in depth each time it’s played and one that should win Just Jack widespread and well deserved critical acclaim. But just don’t get Jack wrong. This isn’t just some kid from the wrong side of some not bad tracks, rapping about the ghetto, crack, rocks, pipes, pimps, whores, bookies and boozers. This is an artist with well educated, thought out ideas with substance. He’s got something to say and more importantly he says it well. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait a further five years until his next release.