Modern + Folk = Oxymoron? Jonquil prove otherwise.
Yet another band hailing from Oxford is the progressive folk sextet Jonquil. Despite being part of the same group of friends as YOUM and Foals, Jonquil have swapped party rhythms and spiky math beats for flowing acoustic melodies and sea shanty sing-alongs. This does not mean that they have been left in some archaic alternate reality inhabited by people wearing thick woolen jumpers however. Early tracks from the band certainly expose their influence from their Oxford brethren and they are never afraid to combine samples with a squeezebox. Whistle Low the title track from the band’s first EP contains a repeated guitar riff that if played on a Stratocaster through a variety of pedals and switches as opposed to an acoustic guitar would not sound so out of place on a Foals album. The modern influences melded with classic techniques do not end here, their first album, Lions, is beautifully crafted combining very subtle modern electronic sounds and uses a technique of linking tracks together by sampling voices and other recordings which is reminiscent of classic Pink Floyd albums. These modern inorganic techniques are used very subtly in Jonquil’s music just to polish off and modernise the beautiful flowing melodies and sea shanty-esque sing-alongs created by their huge range of acoustic instruments and vocal styles. The music Jonquil create and the skill with which they play it makes it ideal for live performance and they have gained a reputation for cozy sing along gigs, this trait is epitomized by the title track from Lions. A track that runs at under two minutes but creates such an instantaneous atmosphere that you feel compelled to join in before you even know the words. This instant creation of atmosphere can be said for most tracks on the album but each creation is very individual, the haunting sound of Subtle Strains is another great example, this ability is a product of having six band members and a huge range of instruments and vocal styles to call on. One of their new compositions not on the album is Pillow Quest again creating an original more modern, driven style and direction for the band.
In short Jonquil are advancing at an extraordinary rate and are dragging ‘modern folk’ along with them, the advancements and changes they are making seems natural and subtle and don’t at any point make their songs or music inaccessible in any way. Anyone could put Lions on tomorrow and get something from it, they have such a great variety of sounds and feelings that it would be impossible not to.
Jonquil are currently “working hard to create the best album imaginable’ and are playing upcoming dates in London, Birmingham and Leeds.
IOHO recommends the tracks:
Lions, Pillow Quest and Subtle Strains
Jonquil – Lions
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Websites:
http://www.myspace.com/jonquiluk
Tags: accordian, floyd, Foals, folk, Jonquil, lions, low, Math, modern, Movie, new, Oxford, party, pillow, pink, post, quest, rock, Soundtrack, squeezebox, systems, whistle, yannis, YOUM, Youth, zodiac
