Jason How returns with his fourth album, here he continues to demonstrate and hone his innate skill for writing addictive melodies and hooks, telling stories and painting pictures that draw the listener into his world.
This time around, he has taken inspiration from his home surroundings and his experiences cycling around the Kent countryside. On Seven Mile Lane he manages to turn the everyday into sunshine soaked harmonies, and intriguing tales as well picking up local myths and legends of the deeper darker murkier tales that often go un-noticed or get forgotten over time.
“Say goodbye to sorrow” is one of the lines from opening track She Can Make Me See. Listening to this album is one sure-fire way of doing just that, it is a ray of sunshine sent to brighten up your day. Turning the dull dreariness of the mundanity of everyday life into colourfully inspiring and alluring tales. Take Checkout Girl for example. Shopping is possibly the most banal of tasks, but Jason manages to take the experience of an interaction with a checkout girl and turn it into a joyous quirky observation.
Get on Your Bike and Ride
The album is packed with choruses that soar and shine, backed by melodies that stimulate and rouse the emotions. Ashford International advocates “Getting up at 7am, just to ride”, the driving guitars and urgent drumming conjure visions of pedalling like the devil. Makes you want to get on your bike and ride as some other minor singer once said…There is a theme on the album advocating getting off your backside and enjoying what is around you, “Get out in the sunshine and the rain” urges How on Rural Pastimes.
Despite being about experiences of a ghostly apparition, widely assumed to be that of tragic bride Judith Langham who was killed on the road in 1965. The Bride of Death (on the 229) is a fast-paced upbeat tune.
Jangly guitars aplenty bring an 80’s indie feel to his off-beat summery 60s inspired psychedelic pop. Having listened recently to the Creation compilation “Doing it for the Kids”, some of the tunes wouldn’t sound out of place alongside the likes of The Weather Prophets, Biff Bang Pow! and The Jasmine Minks.
As well as the fast and the furious, Jason turns his hand to the moody and mellow, on tunes like Edge of the World. While further album highlight, and penultimate track pretty much sums up how I feel daily “Words fail me when I thought I’d seen everything”.
Jason How albums never fail to disappoint, this album cements that firmly. Seven Mile Lane is a solid album from start to finish, with no urge to hit the skip button at any point it is a joy to behold. Bring some of the bliss of the Kentish countryside into your life.
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