Fetish – 29 Music
Swedish born and Britain based artist, Jay-Jay Johanson has been producing languid and melancholic trip hop since 1996. His new album takes on some classics and furthers his exploration into cinematic soundscapes, where his flighty vocals echo in a solid, jazzy nightclub way.
The tones are ambient and hypnotic. While there are electronic dance tracks, the vibe is generally mellow and intimate. Fetish is filled with tracks that sound familiar and haunting, all the while sparkling with a noir-like cloudiness and grit.
Track 10, “Happy Birthday,” may be the most upbeat and romantic of the songs on Fetish – the sounds of a crooner accompanied by sprinkled piano. Track 2, “Finally,” is an orchestral trip hop beat, reaching back into 1930s art deco for inspiration. This is surely art-pop at its best and basic – combining hints of genres and of sounds throughout the decades.
Track listing –
1: Seine
2: Finally
3: I Did My Best
4: Jeopardize
5: Labyrinth
6: Puppet on a String
7: The Stars Align
8: Summer Night of Love
9: Andy Warhol’s Flesh for Frankenstein
10: Happy Birthday
My Favorites are: 2**, 5**, 6**, 1**, 10**, and 7**. An enjoyable collection of jazz, synth, and dance rhythms.
– (h)earwitness