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Jon Jenkins has many albums to his credit, including “Flow”
and “Continuum” which I feel marks his success in the ambient market. He has worked with such notable names as
David Helping, Paul Lackey and Jeff Pearce.
His style is self described as “Ambient – Electronic
Esoterica” and I couldn’t agree more.
Sometimes bordering on classical with an electronic touch, sometimes
almost space music, sometimes a touch of jazz, Jon Jenkins has created a style
within a style of music making his compositions unique in a genera that is
typically identified as a “non-descript” style of music.
This CD is not the usual “ambient” production in that it is
not meant to be soft and non-intrusive as much ambient is. This CD is meant to be turned up and listened
to… this is a “feel the music” CD that will leave you wanting more. Jon Jenkins takes ambient to new ground here
with some very powerful compositions. There
are ten tracks all deserving of serious consideration.
The first track “The Calling” offers space synth and
ethereal vocals that rises and fall to rise again in a progression piece. Filled with emotional stanzas, this piece could
be considered an introduction to the balance of the work.
The first piece works into the second piece called “Zzyzx Road”. This is keyboard with synth backfill that
provides a lovely composition, both strong and emotional. A very lovely melody is carried throughout
the piece, making this a memorable track in a place where melody is not always
memorable, but usually intentionally abstract.
This is a very remarkable composition giving ambient music a definition.
“Through City Light” returns to the spacey electronica with
a clearly identifiable beat and a hint of keyboard melody that tickles the mind
as it sweeps you into the mood. More of
a “jazzy” feeling emerges but never dominates, giving this again a very unique
feel. Another powerful and emotion
filled composition.
At this point the pace changes. “Secrets of the Virgin” is a softer composition
that drifts in and out of stronger changeovers. We are introduced to an almost romantic
composition that seduces you into a calmer place within yourself and explodes
into “sexy” vocalizations emphasized by a clearly defined, often orgasmic beat against
a keyboard composition that sweeps you off your feet. It will lull you into that calm place and
back into the ecstatic beat several times over the course of the composition
before allowing you to finally rest.
“Legacy” allows us to travel with the music as it lifts us
up with keyboard chords suggesting melody, but it is the demanding beat that
moves our feet. We stop momentarily to linger in a soft
explosion of sound and emotion only to move on again with the beat to the next
destination this composition takes us to before allowing you to come finally to
rest.
“Deep sleep and Dying Embers” is another change of pace,
providing a very calming composition, drifting in and out of the mind. Soft, very subtle and very delightful,
allowing us a period of relaxation.
We then are called upon to enjoy an almost spiritual
composition in “The Source”. Suggestions
of flute, keyboard, ghostly vocals, powerful musical phrases and strong waves of
sound build and wash over you as you allow this piece to move you to another
level.
Then there are the delightful fields to wander in “Sky of
Surrender”. Again, this suggests an
almost classical feel to the composition, but never gives into it. We are allowed a feeling of vastness, a never
ending horizon that this composition reaches out towards, but it never limits
itself to one space. This is a
composition that follows the phrasing of the music, not a beat, and is expertly
executed allowing us to drift with the music rather than forcing us to follow.
“Through Different Eyes” gives us a short, powerful burst of
energy with a delightful composition drifting in a strong emotional
background. The melody is never lost, as
the background seems to force the melody to the front of the piece. Drifting over all this is a lovely vocal
accompaniment to the melody that harmonizes rather than distracts. Again, another composition that calls for our
attention, rather than allowing itself to settle into the background.
The final track “Forever” caps this CD with another composition
that declares open space rather than limited boundaries. This piece is strong, bold and yet is not
contained by a beat. The phrases reach
out and grab our attention; keyboard blends with synth and vocals to demand we
pay attention, and then carries us over the vastness of the composition. The ending of the journey comes with a
feeling of timelessness and endless space.
The compositions never become dark or monotonous. There is a definite feeling of uplifting, of
carrying you along with the music, so you do not encounter any blockages or
distractions to the enjoyment of the compositions. This is a CD to be listened to and enjoyed,
rather than pushed to the background as
“mood music”.
Jon Jenkins weaves a patchwork of styles and compositions which
are not only pleasing as a whole to the ear, but also calls our attention to
each piece individually to truly appreciate the blending of styles and textures
that create the entire CD. This is not
ambient music for the background, but rather it demands we pay attention to the
music and allow ourselves to be pulled into it to truly appreciate the works as
well as the journey the artist is presenting to us. This is a lovely and masterful effort that
should not be overlooked and should be part of your ambient collection. And if you have never heard Jon Jenkins’ work
before, this is a great introduction to the talent of this artist. mafoster
Reviewed
by MA Foster
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