Album Review: Jingles 4

Smooth and stylish music abounds in this cutely titled Jingles 4 album, 10 songs with high quality modern folk arrangements that are accompanied by slick vocal harmonies and melodies that have a very charming quality. Elliot Brown tells stories of life and wonder in a comical but cool way, narrating real world hopes and experiences with an audible and tuneful voice that is engaging and wholesome. The music is driven by clean and steady rhythms that are delivered with a healthy mix of varying methods, there are simple drum machine beats, hand patting, tennis ball bounces and simple tapping of hands or sticks.

The smooth sea shanty rhythm of Star feels very smooth and is only improved with its flowing melody and curious Greek sounding guitar picks. Many songs have wonderful splashing and bouncing keyboard symphonics that provide a retro sound to a modern beat. Want Her Back has a cheery upbeat feel, with beatlesque harmonies and melody, Rest Home also provides another Mersey/Folk sound with its interesting Oasis meets Dylan quality. Nile has a very Paul Simon sounding vocal, and is furnished with the most wonderful smile inducing backing vocal arrangement. Hired Labour has very cool vibrato keys, and an even cooler lyrical story.

Each song has a unique sound and structure yet the feel and texture of the music is consistently delightful, the stimulating tunes and real world stories keep you engaged and entertained. Jingles 4 is a thoughtful musical creation that is fresh and heart-warming, a reminder that beautiful music can be found, and its way better that the over pop sound on the radio these days, unless of course they play Elliot Brown’s Jingles 4.