JOHN JENKINS
Restless Hearts
The previous album release from the Liverpool based singer-songwriter was much admired and enjoyed on these pages. Restless Hearts has met with the same approval, bringing into focus the range of his art, moving from the autobiographical and often introspective elements of ‘Tuebrook’, to the outward looking, story telling collection with which we are now presented.
While he is quick to admit to his influences, both lyrical and musical in the shape of Dylan and Nanci Griffiths, both the songs and the delivery are very much his own. Softly delivered, he weaves stories of those of us who look beyond their current situations and dare to imagine and then seek what to most would be and simply remain a dream.
The quality of both his writing and delivery are matched by the assembled musical and vocal accompanists, having surrounding himself with the talents of Mikey Kenney (fiddle), Scott Poley (dobro), Chris Howard (piano), Phil Chisnall (resonator guitar), Jon Lawton (various guitars and bass), along with frequent collaborator Pippa Murdie on mandolin, cello, and backing vocals. Make no mistake, this is Jenkins’ own album – his voice and guitar are at the heart of it at all times, but each of his team make contributions that further elevate the quality Americana on offer. After multiple listens, it’s as though a good time has been distilled and placed on CD!
At the core of Restless Hearts are the stories within the songs and beyond that there is the sense of character and place that runs across the album and maintains the interest throughout. It’s often a gentle, engaging listen but the likes of ‘I Didn’t Really Want To Change The World’ pick up the pace, but picking out individual tracks for praise would overlook the fact that the whole album has the feel of a complete piece, classy and satisfying. You can’t say much fairer than that!
