Review by Jon Birch
Listen Up Manchester album rating: 7/10
If Not Now Then When, is the debut solo album from prolific
record producer, Ethan Johns. The son of the legendary Glyn Johns, producer for
the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Faces, The Who and Eric Clapton to name
but a few, Ethan has a mightily impressive pedigree of his own. He’s the man
behind The Kings Of Leon’s first two, sound-defining albums and has worked with
the likes of Joe Cocker, Ray LaMontagne and Laura Marling.
As the title suggests, it’s a record that’s been long
planned and on first listen, Ethan Johns has got plenty to offer as a solo
artist. There’s a wealth of genres packed in here, from the mournful acoustic opening
of Hello Sunshine, the full on Blues-Rock of Morning Blues to the upbeat Americana
of Red Rooster Blue.
With the record just ten tracks long, it does sometimes feel
a little this mass of styles has been crammed together; across the opening few
tracks, it almost lurches from genre to genre, pieces of a jigsaw that don’t
quite fit. However, it comes together on The Turning which see’s John’s at his
most contemplative. There’s something of the wistful beauty of Nick Drake in
the soft piano and clear reflective vocals. It’s a beautiful, moving song and
leads the album into its strongest section with the Nick Cave-like, Rally and
Don’t Reach Too Far.
Johns has worked closely with Ryan Adams for much of his
career (he took the helm for both Adam’s seminal 2001 album Gold and its
predecessor Heartbreaker) and Adams, along with Laura Marling, joins in for the
lead track, Whip Poor Will, contributing a backing track of haunting vocals and
subtle slide guitar.
Throughout his time behind the desk, Ethan Johns has worked
with a wide range of musicians and that’s openly expressed in his music. It’s
the reason why so many genres are on display here and why many tracks sound so
readily influenced by others. What it does lead you to wonder is, is it his
style that has been influenced by those he’s worked with or is it maybe the
other way round? This is a decent debut that showcases Ethan John’s many talents
and, if there is a follow up, it will be intriguing to see which direction he
takes next.
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