Award winning trailblazer Jacob Banks has released his new project ‘Yonder: Book II’, the second installment in an ambitious three-part anthology series. It features the new focus track ‘Blind’, which has already picked up 6 Music airplay from Chris Hawkins and Craig Charles, and comes ahead of his upcoming ‘Yonder’ European headline tour which calls at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town. Listen HERE.
Whereas ‘Book I’ saw Jacob Banks apply his sumptuous soulful vocal to modern sounds inspired by Motown and ‘70s Afrobeat, ‘Book II’ sees him embracing the creative sonics and unorthodox influences from a broad array of alternative sounds. Opening track ‘Blind’ offers the ideal initiation into this fresh approach. Narrating an experience of being lost within love’s surprises, the track opens with a contrast between grinding, manipulated sounds and the stark beauty of piano. Yet as Jacob’s voice seemingly effortlessly blends raw passion and utmost expression, underpinned by gospel vocals, it thunders into a dramatical, cacophonous wall-of-sound.
Jacob says,“’Book II’ is a meeting of worlds that have both been dear to me, my love of soul music and my love of alternative music.”
The project’s second track ‘All Aboard’ takes the polar opposite approach, a moment of introspective soul-searching with nowhere to hide in its sparse acoustic guitar accompaniment. ‘Something New’ then heads into alt R&B territory, with Jacobruminating on whether to stick with a relationship or gamble on finding something more life-affirming. ‘Book II’ subsequently takes a leftfield turn on ‘Move Like Me’, with the detuned guitars and clattering percussion giving a contemporary feel to a song that otherwise echoes the late Rodriguez. Finally, ‘You Like I Love It’ closes this installment with a gentle, uplifting finale.
Comments are closed.