“I’d like to think I’m not really one to, so to speak…toot my own trumpet or boast. However, I must say I am pretty darn proud of myself for self-producing, recording, capturing/designing the artwork & music videos, writing 99% of my debut album. ”
James Brett
Hello all
When I started this blog, I did not expect people to get in contact with, asking me to review their albums. The blog is just over a month old now I have had two such requests. The difference with this one is I know nothing about James Brett and have never heard of him.
James reached out to me via Facebook and kindly asked if I would have a listen, and share my thoughts with him, I had a quick listen with a Saturday morning coffee and I liked what heard, there was just something there with the lyrics, that I wanted to hear more of. So I replied back, said yes, but told him to give me a week or so, so I get to know the album more.
James Brett is a singer/songwriter from Brighton, who wrote all the songs, self-produced, played all the instruments(including handclapping), designed all the artwork from his bedroom, for his debut album “ The Sky Is A Distance From The Sea” he should be darn proud of himself.
On further listening, what surprised me was how many love song where on it, this is shown on the catchy “Comfort Zone”
Let’s not forget the songwriting here, “She’s the kind of girl who loves a g&t but drinks responsibly and I’m the type of guy that when I’m drunk I’m high & quiet when I’m dry” James sings on “You & I”
But it’s not all about love, ” Day in Day out” is about lock-down and not being able to go out and meet your friends, with some nice atmospheric guitar riff in the background.
And their humour here, when he counts in the band “1,2,3,4” at the beginning of “Epiphany”, but he is the band. Well, I found it funny!
Things get a bit up-tempo with the Punky/Pop track “Overtime”
This is a nicely put together album, with some very nice well-written songs on it. We must not forget the music, I know James plays the guitar, but not sure how he has done the other instrument, it’s not all sounding the same there is a great mixture of pace and tempo here. This is shown on one of the best tracks on the album “Two Lovers Entwined”
I have one very small criticism and that is the effect used on the vocals, not sure if its a reverb effect, but just think in some songs this just needs toning down a tad.
I just want to thank James for introducing me to his music, and all the best in the future.
