Jack Penate - Everything Is New (Album Review)

Don't you just love summer? I use to hate going to sleep when it still light and sun burn was never fun but as i've grown older, i've come to understand why us Brits get so excited when the sun has got his hat on. So, it excites me when I hear this glimmering set of songs from London based songwriter Jack Penate.

After his wonderfully up-beat and pop tinged debut 'Matinee', it seems that Jack has bigger fish to fry on this follow up record, both musically and lyrically. The sound is still very poppy and upbeat, (So Near / Everything is New) but at the same time the lyrical themes seem to get much deeper (Every Glance) and amusingly morbid (Let's All Die). The production here seems to be much more ambient and lush but still with the shimmer that made his debut such a success. It's also great to hear Jack playing around with different sounds, (the funky, lo-fi dance hit 'Todays Tonight') different intstruments (the brass soaked summer pop stylings of 'Be the One') and just generally beefing things up with lots of backing vocals (again, the title track is a good example of this aswell as the groove driven 'Give Yourself Away').

So, in short 'Everything is New' is reflective, intimate, charming and melded together with alot groove and alot of heart; it's a massive progression from Matinee and its going to be the soundtrack of your summer! FACT!

Rating: 9.5/10


Download: Everything Is New / So Near / Give Yourself Away