Jacob Banks today completes a visionary project as he unveils ‘Book III’ – the finale of his ambitious ‘Yonder’ anthology series. ‘Yonder: Book III’ opens with its focus track ‘Blame It On God’. Listen HERE.
Each book of ‘Yonder’ has presented a radically different side to Jacob’s far-reaching creativity. First, ‘Book I’ propelled Motown and ‘70s Afrobeat influences into the modern day, while ‘Book II’ applied alternative sonic touchpoints to Jacob’s core soul sound. ‘Book III’ again charts fresh territory, this time focusing on rootsy acoustic singer-songwriting and inspirational gospel.
Jacob Banks wrote all five songs on ‘Book III’. He says, “‘Book III’ is the final chapter and it’s for those of us who feel everything all too much.”
The first song ‘Blame It On God’ uses a deceptively simple melody and folk guitar as the backdrop for Jacob’s bluesy voice to decree the hypocrisy of people who use their religion as an excuse for behaviour that’s anything but moral. Coming from a man who has demonstrated a consistent eloquence when discussing the nuances of faith, his forthright lyricism holds nothing back from its targets.
The other pages within ‘Book III’ also highlight a more stripped-back version of Jacob’s art. ‘Heavy Love’ feels as intimate as a glimpse into a solo rehearsal, his lead vocal supported only by acoustic guitar and some warm backing harmonies. ‘All My Love’ is richer in texture, as Jacob pushes the passion of his voice to its full extent supported by celestial background vocals and the warmth of a live band, while the concise ‘Sugarcoat’ spins together neo-soul funk and timeless ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll balladry. The best is saved for last with ‘Gone Are The Days’, the kind of majestic slow burner that would feel perfectly in time in any era from the early ‘60s through to the present day.
Comments are closed.