It was an eye opening moment when Radiohead released ‘In Rainbows‘ and gave their fans the choice of at what price to purchase it at. The moral implications of this were far greater than one might think in this disposable era.
Jonathan Dagan aka J. Viewz decided his latest project would be as modern and intelligent as the music of that he produces. In the early stages of this mini masterpiece, fans would pay for an album in advance and release a song a month, sent digitally, before culminating the album and producing a twenty six page booklet with beautifully thoughtful artwork. This would leave fans with a full package, yet by giving them small chunks of a whole, leaves fans desperate for the next song and in turn, a sense of longing for the finished piece.
Musically it is a very exprerimental yet expressive album, lying somewhere between Neon Indian, Passion Pit and Zero 7, up beat electro pop backdrop sometimes submerging beneath a watery haze of chillout lounge, and minimalist soul.
‘Meantime‘ is a great example of these two themes melting together, with Japanese house synths and soft vocals rolling like two colours of smoke above a solid lanscape of straight beats.
As time goes on, genres will get harder and harder to define and redefine, and J. Viewz is no exception. The trip-hop meets go-go dance funk of ‘This City Means No Love‘ and the Peter Bjorn and John meets late eighties LA hip-hop of ‘Salty Air‘ both don’t feel out of place, and even compliment each other. They are as unpredictable as the times of music ahead.
‘Building A Home‘ is a beautiful slab of creative layers, energetic and bold, yet thoughtful and stark. What follows it is in my opinion the strongest song on the album and keeps these themes alive. ‘Far Too Close‘ is as pop as it is creative.
While straying far from each other, each track on ‘Rivers And Homes‘ is undeniably J.Viewz.
—–
Post by T.R Wicks
—–
TRACKS:
