As we pass the halfway mark for this remarkable collection of songs being drip-fed to the audience as four EPs, Music By Jeremy shows no sign of slowing down. The third quarter of many albums, especially longer releases, has notoriously been the place where energy levels tend to ebb. (To this day I don’t think I have played the second half of The Clash’s Sandinista, and as for the tail end of Pink Floyd’s Ummagumma,… forget it.)
As soon as ‘No Price on Earth’ gently wanders in, it is clear that we are not in that territory, and this island-vibed, slice of ornate acoustic continues with the suggestion that although a debut release, Scenes from a Well Worn Path has constantly felt like a Best of album. The self-imposed benchmarks here are high.
‘Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren’ is not just an intriguing title; it gets down to the important business of what sort of world we are going to leave for future generations, but it does so over some of the most gratuitous grooves. How much is enough? traverses similar territory, but through more seductive sonics: an understated yet ornate slice of acoustic examining personal ideas of excess, wealth, and greed.
This sonic chapter ends with ‘The Letter’, a song built on folky vibes that rise through dreamscape vocals into more rock and roll territory, a brooding piece that toys with ideas of ignoring the difficult experiences in personal relationships…the titular ‘Letter’ being a ‘Schrödinger’s Cat’ that doesn’t mean anything until it is opened and read. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.
Some might question the wisdom of releasing your debut album as a four-sided sonic beast, but the songwriting quality here more than suggests that even if it had been a triple album, or more, Music By Jeremy could fill it with songs, most of which could head out into the world as a single.
This is one hell of an opening statement.
