Jason Upton - On the Rim of the Visible World
Artist:
Title:
On the Rim of the Visible World
Type:
Album
Released:
16 Feb 2011 (US), 07 Aug 2009 (UK)
LTTM Rating:
Your Rating:
Review
When I saw the cover to this album, never having heard of Jason Upton before, I thought it looked like it could be a Badly Drawn Boy cover: it's a great piece of art; something a little conceptual; the piano at centre; an impressionistic, jazz-tinged look to things. I was intrigued and wondered whether my hastily-made preconceptions would prove right.
So, the album was recorded at Mr Upton's home. Apparently the band just gathered around and worshipped. There were probably snacks - I'm thinking brownies and nachos (not together). Actually, there's no evidence of the snack element...
Read More When I saw the cover to this album, never having heard of Jason Upton before, I thought it looked like it could be a Badly Drawn Boy cover: it's a great piece of art; something a little conceptual; the piano at centre; an impressionistic, jazz-tinged look to things. I was intrigued and wondered whether my hastily-made preconceptions would prove right.
So, the album was recorded at Mr Upton's home. Apparently the band just gathered around and worshipped. There were probably snacks - I'm thinking brownies and nachos (not together). Actually, there's no evidence of the snack element in the recording. However, the recording style is clear from the first listen. It feels a little like Johnny Cash's American Recordings, recorded in (producer) Rick Rubin's living room - a very high quality recording that is lent character and beauty by the simplicity of the thing. Sure, occasionally there are unwelcome background noise (somebody seems to be fidgeting on a wicker chair throughout the album, but especially on The Cross is Always Ready - still a favourite for me) but the recording seems to use these quirks, rather than fighting them. I really like what's being attempted here.
And I really like the results too. Upton's voice - a sort of drawl that sounds like he's had a heavy night but is more beautiful for it (think Kings of Leon) - leads with great range and a folky, jazz feel. The piano is the main instrument and this is used in a dynamic way - the timing and the touch demonstrate incredible skill. The other instrumentalists, including guest vocalists, are also brimming with talent that is used with brilliant sensitivity to the songs - this is key because, rather than style or ideas, the songs are really the central aspect of this album.
The first song (Between the Graveyard and the Garden) frightened me a little - it has a rockabilly beat from early on and this, with Upton's voice sounding all "country 'n' western", I thought I was in for something that I just can't stand. But pretty quickly, I found myself carried along by this great piano and enjoyed a great song. The style is fairly country-folk; tracks like Mountain of the Living God are down-home, old style country, but the way Upton manages the songs creates more of a jazz element. It sounds like Ben Folds, with the waves of creative, insistent piano. And I love it.
After the first ten songs, my thoughts were that these were amazing sounding sounds, played by an amazing sounding band in an excellent setting. Sure, the lyrics were fairly patchy, but they occasionally managed to convey something beautiful and intimate between the singer and God. In fact, at this point, I was ready for a 5 out of 5 review.
But this is a sixteen track album. After the first ten tracks (that would form a short but complete, rounded, 5 out of 5 album), there's a change of tack. Next come six live songs and this is where things really aren't up to scratch. The recording is poor (you don't just hear some audience - you hear the out of time clapping, the crying babies, the mobile beeps) and the band just don't sound as special. Rather than the previous intriguing, intimate, individual sound, this could be anybody playing any old country worship songs. It's boring, uninteresting and often meandering.
So, this album is actually great. But sometimes you need to recognise a good ending.
Review by Jon Piper
LTTM Rating 4 out of 5 Stars
Stand Out Tracks
Clouds and Creeds
Mountain of the Living God
The Cross is Always Ready
