ALBUM REVIEW: After Alter – Jaye Jayle
The musical output of JAYE JAYLE has always had a cathartic feel to it, with main man Evan Patterson pouring his heart out in his songs. From the acoustic blues of his earlier work to a more expansive sound that developed as time has gone on, that element has always remained in his music. While that vibe still prevails at the heart of JAYE JAYLE, the band’s latest album After Alter takes on a more explorative sonic journey than it has in the past and the results are inspiring to say the least, with Patterson‘s formidable voice and lyrics at the very heart of it.
From the opening notes of first track Father Fiction, it is clear that After Alter marks a bold new beginning for JAYE JAYLE and from then on in, the whole album takes you right in to their world and all it contains, with many twist and turns along the way but all sounding suitably coherent all the way through at the same time. Tracks like Doctor Green, Fear Is Here, A Blackout and Bloody Me in particular highlight exactly where JAYE JAYLE are at present, with Patterson baring his soul as he alway has done but it seems much more powerful than it has done in the past with the vocalist sounding in complete control of all that is going on.
Sonically, this record takes in all manner of influences, from the raw and discordant post- punk howl of of A Blackout to the brilliant introspective number Bloody Me (which features twice in the album in a heavy blues form halfway through and a raw but tender acoustic take of the same song that closes the album), to the menacing electronic flourishes the record contains, especially on the song Small Dark Voices, this is the most eclectic JAYE JAYLE album to date, and the whole thing weaves together seamlessly.
That weaving together is an impressive feat and shows the growth in JAYE JAYLE, in fact anyone who was only familiar with the band’s early music, would perhaps be surprised that this is the same band but it is testament to the talent of Patterson and the rest of the band in having not only that vision, but the ability to translate that into such a brilliant album. Vocally and stylistically, Nick Cave and the much missed Mark Lanegan are definite reference points for the whole vibe of After Alter but Patterson himself and JAYE JAYLE definitely have their own vibe and aura about them, and this results in the album having a dark but triumphant feeling throughout. After Alter is JAYE JAYLE‘s most harrowing, heavy but ultimately, most eclectic and accomplished work to date and the perfect soundtrack heading into a bold new future, akin to heading to brighter times following some truly dark times.
Rating: 8/10
After Alter is available now via Pelagic Records
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