Rate this sparkling soultronica

Jamie Lidell – Jim

It’s easy to see how newcomers to Jamie Lidell’s soulful radio-friendly pop would be a might bit confused when confronted with his first album Muddlin’ Gear, released on Spymania in 2000. A downright weird collection of frantic sample chip-choppery laced with trademark electronica pops and glitches, Muddlin’ Gear wasn’t so much the showcase of Lidell’s impressive vocal range and talent for good foot-tappin’ tunes but more for showing his finesse and maturity in high-end electronic composition. Multiply, Lidell’s Warp debut five years later, was a more conventional approach in songwriting through which the quirky and sometimes irksome electronic tendencies of his debut album could be heard. His latest release simply titled Jim is a further distillation of Lidell’s vocal influences and every bit as tuneful as Multiply.

The nigh-on complete lack of electronic wizardry makes Jim a sweet and tender affair which somehow seems to transcend motown pastiche and find it’s own niche as a genuinely enthusiastic and unabashedly upbeat record for the summer. Nothing beats putting it on first thing on a sunny Saturday morning with the windows open, it’s absolutely guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone who hears it. This perhaps isn’t a fair comparison but I do wonder sometimes whether in Lidell’s pursuit of breezy pop perfection that he has in some ways created an album reminiscent of anything made by surfin’ strumpet Jack Johnson, albums which can only be listened to during hazy, lazy days. There’s nothing appealing about listening to Jack Johnson during a typical British winter, hearing one of his songs played in a supermarket when it’s cold and raining outside is frankly one of the most depressing experiences you can have.

At the moment Jim has remained on rotation since I snapped it up but the real test will be towards the end of the year, judging by Lidell’s past efforts I’m confident however that it’ll prove to be an excellent pick-me-up rather than a maddening example of some guy crooning about how good his life always is at one particular point in the year.

Rated: 5 out of 7