Wagon Lord - Jove’s Cove
Wagon Lord is solo artist from Redcliffe, Australia. His album, named Jove’s Cove, is spectacular. The album cover is a beautiful capture of Redcliffe’s beaches, though the music is so much grander than the region’s bland coastline. Redcliffe has much more to offer than a pitstop between Brisbane and Sunshine Coast; it has one fantastic artist you ought to be paying attention to.
Part One opens the album quite eloquently. Medieval folk tones gently accompany the articulate wind-instruments and wondrous percussion. While the middle section suffers from some mastering artefacts, the bridge on either side is marvellous. When the muted-trumpet returns towards the last third, it’s spectacular – Galaxy 500 tier. Furthermore, the drums and banjos are elegantly placed within the mix.
Part two begins in a subdue manner, accompanied by impressive banjo tones and excellently paced methodical drumming. Keys are magically introduced early in the song before it dwindles and diverges into a serene stream of consciousness. Muted trumpets gracefully weave in and out vividly, while keys masterfully complement the composition. The Latin-American interlude halfway through the track is creative and plush, once again rounded off by the saxophone in a spectacular manner. Midi drums hold the proceeding section from impacting harder, though the abrasive textures are impeccably placed. Distortion is used in a noteworthy fashion; emphasising emotion and channelling outstanding Neutral Milk Hotel vibes. The dynamic shift is remarkably balanced by a gentle serenade, led by vocals that provide the album with verisimilitude.
Part Three continues the placated trend further into the canals of self-inspection. Crestfallen noir-elements blend into the medieval-folk production quite impressively, though the track doesn’t quite justify its length like the first two masterful suites. The end section is bittersweet, though is once again held back by its midi-drums. Where the composition may be lacking, the mood certainly prevails, never losing its charm.
Jove’s Cove, the final song on the album, is charming. The instrumentation is very much a repeat of what preceded, though the electronic manipulation adds much needed charisma.
The Mojave-3 styled production is an incredible aesthetic for these long suites. The vocals suit the music well, though in some sections they don’t feel as refined as the lush instrumentation. As mentioned throughout the review, the midi-drums are often underwhelming; though Jove’s Cove makes up for such shortcomings with his brimming personality and passion. Lastly, while the compositions are varied, the album tends to rely far too much on its muted-trumpet; more instrumentation would have been welcomed. Thankfully, the trumpet is simultaneously the strongest element to the album. There’s nothing else on /mu/, and perhaps on the internet, that sounds like this.
This is what makes this album so special.
Awesome
Give it a listen here:
https://wwwwagonlord.bandcamp.com/album/joves-cove
It’s recommended you listen to this version of the mix if you are listening to it on anything other than a good pair of headphones
https://neopoliten.bandcamp.com/album/wagon-lord-joves-cove-remixed-mastered
Wagon Lord - Jove’s Cove
