Rooted in London, the one-man band Son of Jack is an artist that represents the best of eclecticism and experience, two qualities that enrich and permeate across his latest album, ‘Just a Life Flashing Before Our Eyes.’
Serving as Son of Jack’s fourteenth album, ‘Just a Life Flashing Before Our Eyes’ is a masterfully crafted narrative of life, love, and self-reflection, a true deep dive into the human experience. Working alongside his versatile daughter and seasoned producer Morgan Nicholls (Senseless Things), Son of Jack has made it so that his new album is a mosaic of pensiveness and polished production.
Intricate in both sound and vision, it’s no surprise that this new album doesn’t fit into one box. In fact, Son of Jack has named the genre of his album FRISCO, which stands for an intriguing blend of folk, rock, indie, psychedelic, and country. It’s safe to say we are in for quite a vibrant ride today!
Just a Life Flashing Before Our Eyes
The first song in the album that I really gravitated toward was the mellifluously intimate ‘Wonder.’ This track opens with a luscious, homely streamlet of acoustic string work, immediately inlaying the song’s texture with hearthward-warm tonal qualities and snug tempos. Nurtured by Son of Jack’s smooth, oaken vocals and the unhurriedly serene drums, the guitar invites the harmonies to slow dance in the heart of the rhythm.
Only gorgeously deep lyrics could enhance the narrative that the melody has created, and, of course, Son of Jack has that covered, too. With lyrics like ‘And you may wonder where you are / And you may wonder what to do / When the rain is falling down,’ how could you not fall in love with this song? I adore it because I found myself pondering over what it means to navigate adulthood and how none of us really know what we’re doing. That, in conjunction with the way that Son of Jack delivers these lines, makes you feel as if you’re a kid again, and your life is being shaped by good influences without you even realising it. His vocals just exude a timbre that tells you that things are going to be alright because someone’s watching over you.
That quality of ‘Wonder’ makes it all the sweeter when Son of Jack’s daughter, Amber, bolsters the track with her sunny vocals. Her voice flaunts a luminescent delivery, a delivery that stunningly contrasts that of her father’s rich, sepia-toned performance. Together, they convey their loving relationship without the need for context, and this love is what deepens the almost rustic charm that permeates across the song’s narrative.
So, ‘Wonder’ set a high bar, and truth be told, it was hard to narrow down which track I’d talk about next – they are all so cosy and magical. In the end, I chose ‘Gold Man,’ and when you hear it, you’ll understand why.
‘Gold Man,’ much like ‘Wonder,’ starts with the measured rhythm of the acoustic guitar, but there is a burdened, almost gravelly gruffness within its timbre that reels you in. This track demonstrates the other side of instrumental leisure, replacing the peace we heard in ‘Wonder’ with a resonant weariness.
You’re not just seeing a new side of Son of Jack’s minimalist instrumentation, either – his vocals weep a shivering vulnerability that can truly melt your heart. The nervous poignancy that effuses from the harmonies hits you even harder as you listen to the song’s lyrics.
The lyrics are studded with fairytale-esque imagery (‘Gold man, gold man / Tell me what do you know / Ten tales of terror / In your travelling show’), and this way of storytelling not only reinforces the track’s ethereal atmosphere but also transforms its confessional heartbeat. By using this imagery, Son of Jack remoulds his story of seeking forgiveness into a fabled quest of redemption, through which the only villains are past wrongdoings. In this way, ‘Gold Man’ is both fantastical and painfully, tenderly human. As if this single wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Amber’s spectre-soft backing vocals and the fluttery laments of the wistful guitar really drive home that, no matter how hard we wish, we can’t turn back time. By the end of ‘Gold Man,’ you feel like you’ve witnessed someone letting go of their ghost chase in the hope of finding a hint of reprieve and peace. You don’t hear songs that can articulate this type of pain in such a stirring way often.
After ‘Gold Man,’ I was so moved that I needed a sort of ‘musical palate cleanser,’ if you will. ‘Song for Ben’ was that track for me. At the start of ‘Song for Ben,’ you get to experience Son of Jack’s flavour of country, and it is so delightful! With a sliver of grain, likening to that of an old car radio, and some sunshine-spry drums, you are swept up in a swell of summery instrumentals. The gentle piano is peppered in between the gravelly moans of the guitar, moulding to the kind shape of Son of Jack’s voice in a way that inspires a foot-tapping gaiety.
The dynamics and the tempo, aglow with a child-like exuberance, serve as a sunlit grove as they nurture the buoyant lyrics to bloom. I love it when artists write love songs that don’t solely revolve around romantic love; it’s a real privilege to hear the depths of Son of Jack’s paternal love. It almost feels like you’re flipping through photo albums brimful of cherished memories and adventures – that’s how joyful and intimate the texture of ‘Song for Ben’ is.
Uniting with the twinkling lull of the backing vocals, the string work imbues the song’s melody with an astonishing contrast between vulnerability and vigour. This contrast carries you toward the track’s conclusion, a waltz between the ebbing vocals and the rippling twang of the guitar.
Ultimately, this 11-track album is a godsend – it’s so nice to hear the work of a musician who is so transparent with his emotions and personal experiences. It wouldn’t feel right to say you’re listening to another of Son of Jack’s releases. Rather, you’re listening to a life lived, a life that – whether through word or music – is gilded with the authentic beauty of its journey.
Son of Jack
Spanning over two decades, Son of Jack’s musical journey has been so incredible that I don’t think any words I could use would do it justice. Ever since the 2002 release of his first solo album, ‘This Is the Sound of Masimo,’ Son of Jack has embarked on a wondrous evolution driven by unrestrained experimentation and thematic exploration.
As a collaborator, Son of Jack has also demonstrated the boundless adaptability of his style. His sound seamlessly merges with the talents of other artists, including vocalists Natalie Jackson and Anouska Ruane, flautist Lucy Thoubboron, and violinist/guitarist Gregory Jackson. Not to mention that, for a time, Son of Jack was a member of South London bands Eazy and Funky Liquid during the start of his career!
What’s more, ever since the Christmas of 2006, Son of Jack and his family have melded their musical prowess to form The Screaming Jacksons. Not only is this an amazingly fun tradition, but it’s also a commendable way for Son of Jack to raise money for charities like UNICEF, The British Heart Foundation, and Alzheimer’s Society. Ultimately, Son of Jack is an artist who deserves your admiration just as much as he deserves your ear.
‘Just a Life Flashing Before Our Eyes’ is available to listen to across all major streaming platforms.
PS: While you’re there, you should absolutely give his latest single ‘Heavy Heart’ some love, too!
Till next time.
