I didn't know Jonathan Bree before. I have heard about The Brunettes (but can't remember any tune from them) but Bree appeared on a (once again) perfect tip from Spotify.
His music is very charming, very mature. It matches perfectly with his deep voice. You can see instantly that Jonathan is not a kid, is a grown up musician, an aged musician, who keeps better with the passing of the years. A bit like Lou Reed or Johnny Cash.
Also, his image is wonderful. Always using spandex masks, keeps a very mysterious feeling to his persona and to his music.
But let's talk about the important thing, the album, After The Curtains Close.
This album is a great, typical, indie album, by a stabilised artist but, with two super important additions. Surround almost all songs and moments of the album, there is an orchestral, classical feeling that gives an uncanny and special sound. Bree mixed all of his attributes in a perfect way. Imagine this: a singer with a charming and deep voice, accompanied by a lot of string instrumental (violins, cellos, harps), wearing masks that cover all of his expressions, playing in a misty and cloudy night in the middle of a forest. That's what this album sounds. And it takes you to a place like that.
There is a song that is a total masterpiece: In The Sunshine. It's the most beautiful track on the album and one of the best things I heard in a while. Soft, danceable, romantic, mysterious. So beautiful. The lyrics are simple and direct. Like a love poem. Actually, the melody speaks so much for iself that it is better to keep the lyrics simple. The "La's" are amazing, gives you a dedep feeling of hope and peace.
Waiting Of The Moment was wisely selected for the first single, as it is the most catchy song on the album.The strings, the overlaid voices, the high bass, a great great song. As it should be, the closing and album-title track After The Curtain Close is another great song, my third favourite for now.
Then, you have a nice collabration with Princess Chelsea and Britta Philips (Kiss My Lips and Meadows in Bloom), although these songs sound like the most different tracks of all, almost maladjusted from the rest of the album.
Then, you a have a lot of good tracks on it, some things in a "noir" and industrial feeling like "Children", "Until We're Done" or other more pop and conventional like "Cover Your Eyes" or "Happy Daze".
It was a great surprise to discover so late Jonathan Bree. He looks like a modern Scott Walker or Richard Hawley. A great album to hear. And, In the Sunshine, must fo directly to yor playlist.
8/10
