A new illusion with Jim James

A picture of Duane Michals titled Illuminated Man, found in a 1971 edition of The Last Whole Earth Catalog and which is featured on the cover of Uniform Distortion, is the spark in James’ creative thrust. The Louisville songwriter goes wild on a rock’n’roll overflowing with fuzz, plays around with various atmospheres and many distortions. A wailing voice at times, or more distant like an echo, for a rather timeless album in the vein of Neil Young’s work.

On Just A Fool and You Get To Rome, Jim James plays with very rock’n’roll and raw guitar riffs, and introduces Yes To Everything with a hoarse and hearty laugh. Indeed, despite his cynic nature, it’s a joyful atmosphere that the singer is trying to create here. He does not hesitate to resort to pop melodies, like on Throwback for instance. A way to contrast with the lyrics dedicated to lost love and James’ toxic experiences with social networks. There is a certain timelessness throughout Uniform Distortion, and the listener might feel they’re moving from one era to the next throughout the album. Too Good To Be True goes back to the eighties with a crooner’s slow. But Jim James uses a quirky tone to deal with potential disappointments. Everything is carefully crafted to give the illusion of simple titles that are in fact much richer and more layered than they appear.

LISTEN TO UNIFORM DISTORTION OF JIM JAMES ON QOBUZ

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