--
Login
|
Logout
| User:
Not Signed In
| Email | Cart | Items
Home |
Magazine
| Photography |
Discussion
| Buy | Sell |
My Account
| About
www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk
Band:
Jim Kroft
Label:
Sidewalk 7
Title:
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Tweet
Review (1)
Release Details
Add Release
Releases (1)
Articles (0)
Cover Art (0)
Versions (0)
Edit Release
Releases List (1)
Reviews (1)
Pictures (0)
Summary (0)
Related (0)
Jukebox (0)
List All (1)
Band:
Jim Kroft
Title:
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Reviewed By:
Anthony Middleton
Date Published:
13/05/2010
Label:
Sidewalk 7
Format:
CD
Release Year:
Label
Lookup:
From the opening bars of 'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea', this feels like an accomplished mish-mash; a veritable grand tour around the various inspirations and influences that have been brought to bear on Jim Kroft’s musical consciousness. The opener 'Tales of the Dark Arts' has the bounce and stridency of ELO, who in turn owed much to the Beatles. None of this is to criticise Kroft, a Scot who decamped a while ago to Berlin, a long time refuge for musicians from Nick Cave to Bowie. It is, he says, a place where artistic freedom reigns. It is Bowie that Kroft has been occasionally compared, though this is unfair to all concerned given the breadth, originality and uniqueness of Bowie’s career.
Listening to this can be a bit like wine tasting, A hint of Orange Juice at the back of the palate; a bit of Lotus Eaters on the nose; a lingering finish of Aztec Camera, or is that my imagination and it just sounds like pop? Kroft is certainly unbowed by any current trends or fashions, which leaves it timeless but also bit out of time. While there is a constant nod to 80s indie-pop, there is the craft of an accomplished song writer, though he may demand too much of his own voice occasionally.
'One Sees the Sun' is a thumping powerful single, and with it’s summer friendly, sing-along chorus and change of pace, is somewhat reminiscent of the Boo Radleys. I will it leave to the reader to decide if this is good thing or not.
The album is polished affair without a dud or shining diamond; the whole is certainly greater than the sum of the parts. Lyrically Kroft is dense, occasionally clumsy (“I ask where have all the good people gone”) occasionally eloquent with simply honesty. Much of the album responds to Kroft’s life, such as 'Ragdoll' about his restlessness, though lines like “I’m a strange bohemian man livin’ in a foreign land’ jar. No need to be so overt.
The finale, 'Let Go', is up beat, positive and, like much of the album, beautifully adorned with strings and a rousing beat. The album is certainly listenable; musically it is catchy, lyrically forceful, well produced and yet flawed. Perhaps it feels too disparate, like a blunderbuss scattering shot far and wide and hitting nothing rather than being well aimed and nailing a specific target.
Track Listing:
Commenting On: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jim Kroft
Header
Comment:
Your Name
Your Location
ie London, England
tick box before submitting comment
First
Previous
Next
Last
Related Bands
(edit)
Related Labels
Sidewalk 7
Review Header
Enthusiastic, but unfocused anf flawed debut album from Scottish-born, but now Berlin-based singer-songwriter Jim Kroft
Articles A-Z
View All
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - CD
Enthusiastic, but unfocused anf flawed debut album from Scottish-born, but now Berlin-based singer-songwriter Jim Kroft
First
Previous
Next
Reviews A-Z
View All
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Top Articles (Current Magazine)
Tony Visconti Interview
Ruts DC Interview
Skids Interview
Eastern Swell Interview
JODI Pop Espontáneo
Last Day Sect Interview
Catty Pearson Interview
St Lucifer Interview
Theatre Of Hate Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 12/12/2018
Greta Van Fleet Interview
Top Reviews (Current Magazine)
Jess Klein Back to My Green CD (Blue Rose)
David Bromberg The Player: A Retrospective CD (Floating World)
Half Japanese Invincible CD (Fire Records)
Fumaca Preta Pepas CD (Stolen Body Recordings)
Jamie Hutchings Bedsit CD (Come to the Darkside Lik)
Visage Pâle Holistic Love Band 10" (Castles in Space)
Snapped Ankles Stunning Luxury CD (Leaf Label)
Ben Bedford The Hermit’s Spyglass CD (Cavalier Recordings)
Martin Ptak River Tales CD (Col Legno)
Mozes and the Firstborn Dadcore CD (Burger Records)