The opening line of this album made me laugh out loud. From that point on Bipolar Diversions by England’s Jackdaw4 delivers so many superbly tongue in cheek moments throughout this joyful album that it will have you recommending it to total strangers at the bus stop. I have heard it described as a ‘breath of fresh air’, ‘irresistible’, ‘gleeful and robust.’ Yes, it is all of those things but for me it plugs a huge gaping hole that has existed in the music world of late. It brings the sun out – amuses – mesmerizes and shines with a freshness that is wonderfully done.
Jackdaw4 is built around the song writing talent that is Willie Downing. He shares those credits with others across an album of totally memorable spirit and adventure. As I say from the first line of the first track I was hooked and by the time “Frobisher’s Last Stand” came in I was a convert. There is a terrible danger when reviewing albums and that is the curse of repetition. How on earth can you review this and sound as fresh as the music itself? Answer: you can’t, well I can’t at least. So what you’ll get is an attempt to put into a bottle the incredible range of music contained within this CD.
Bipolar Diversions has the quirkiness of Ray Davies, all the melodic brilliance of The Beatles, all the harmony of Brian Wilson and all the pop-ability of, let’s say, 10cc – all rolled into one joyous party of sound. This CD can get right under your skin and is the sort of thing you need to play for inspiration just prior to meeting your boss for your yearly appraisal. Don’t expect to be still employed when you come out, but rest assured you WILL feel better.
“Jesus Wants My Soul Back” is described perfectly by UK, TV presenter Jonathan Maitland on the Jackdaw4 website when he says that it actually restored his faith in music, such is its freshness. Honky-tonk piano underpins a wonderfully written and harmonized song which, like the majority of the album, is actually deceptively complex. Stop and listen to the Sir Paul McCartney-like chorus during one of his “Admiral Halsey” (The ‘Ram’ album) phases. The chiming intro to “My Little Gangsta” and “Heimlich’s Manoeuvres”, continue the experience with a romp through the bizarrely satirical, complete with a totally unexpected catchy chorus.
“All Around the World” works on every level and provides a reflective moment that is so well written it drips pop class. “Illuminati” is a wonderful take on the world of paparazzi that we all live in. “The End of the Party” is a song that sounds so familiar, a mesh of so many well mixed sources that it sounds more magpie than jackdaw. “Sleep” wraps it up and sends us off nicely.
In a grey world of sometimes dull tunes quirky colour like this is most welcome. Yes Mr. Downing, the opening line of the album is right – I know you didn’t mean it that way – but for this, shining moment, it really does. It shines out of this record as well.
Jackdaw4's website can be found here or visit their Myspace Profile.
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