Kelvin Jones
Stop The Moment
(Epic Records/Sony Music)
I first came across Kelvin Jones’s music thanks to the magical world that is YouTube. In amongst the videos of cats performing tricks, parodies and stunts YouTube is filled with entertaining music videos and performances. Kelvin Jones’s soulful voice and fluid guitar playing have helped him secure many followers at the age of 20.
Having lived in a middle-class suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe with his parents until he was nine years old, Kelvin then moved to Stevenage near London, United Kingdom and for him ‘Everything changed in a moment’. Interestingly, it was from watching videos of the the late legend B.B.King on YouTube that Kelvin taught himself to play guitar five years ago and he hasn’t looked back since.
His debut album ‘Stop The Moment’ is out now on Epic Records and Four Music as part of a joint venture with Sony Music and opens with ‘Call You Home’. The subtle acoustic guitar is pleasant to listen to and the song’s lyrics are both catchy and heartfelt. It has received extensive radio airplay on BBC Radio 2 in the UK
‘As You Wake Up’ features a solid drum beat as Kelvin asks someone ‘Be the first thing that you see, as you wake up’. I can see this song featuring on future Valentines Day compilation albums and being played at weddings as the first song dance. Absolutely beautiful song.
The title track is a funky number about having a special moment and stopping it at that specific time. It is an emotional piece as Jones asks ‘Do we really have to change, cause’ honestly I’m terrified’ and I think everyone has felt like that at some point in their life. It is songs like this that allow the music buying public to connect to an artist as the material is relate-able.
‘Closer’ has rich backing vocalists and a crisp Hammond organ intro but compared to its predecessors it is a tad forgettable to me. However, the song’s overall production is well done and suits the tonality of the song.
‘Good Together’ is a realization song as Kelvin accepts that he and an unnamed individual are not good together in a relationship. The lyrics are incredibly mature for someone of such a young age. The keyboards and electric guitar really go for it on this track to convey that crazy sound jerky sound.
‘In Your Place’ is incredibly dark and deals with the aftermath of fighting in a war e.g. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and the electric guitar is very James Bay-esque in terms of delivery.
‘No More Lies’ has stunning group harmonies and classy piano as Kelvin throws a music curveball with a bluesy electric guitar solo that really works. Although Kelvin Jones is not specifically a blues musician it is clear that the genre has influenced his sound as a whole.
‘I Know You Lied’ is a highlight as he begins to understand that someone lied to him about his future but despite all that he is going to go for it and get what he was promised.
‘We Are More’ is a bold statement as Jones stands up for himself and his friends as he proclaims ‘We are more!’ Essentially, we as individuals are more than what people think of us and plan for us to do in life. We are capable of doing whatever we put our minds too. An anthem for individuals for sure.
Closing track ‘I Wouldn’t Change You’ will be a live favourite during his live shows as it is upbeat and will get everyone dancing and singing along.
This album allows the listener to embark on a musical journey with Kelvin Jones from the start of a relationship, the romance phase, the break-up phase and then the acceptance. It does feel a little bit personally intrusive but I would like to think that the writing and recording of this album was part of the process for him. I can appreciate it probably wasn’t easy to do but it has allowed the world to hear and understand just how talented Kelvin Jones is.
Glenn Sargeant
Kelvin Jones’s debut album ‘Stop The Moment’ is out now on Epic Records/Sony Music. Kelvin Jones will be touring the UK in 2016 at the following shows:
Tuesday 10th May 2016 – (Supporting Hannah Trigwell),King Tut’s, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Wednesday 11th May 2016 – (Supporting Hannah Trigwell), The Barfly, Camden, London, United Kingdom
Thursday 12th May 2016 – (Supporting Hannah Trigwell), Louisiana, Bristol, United Kingdom
Friday 13th May 2016 – (Supporting Hannah Trigwell),Sound Control, Manchester, United Kingdom
Sunday 10th July 2016 – Cornbury Music Festival 2016, Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
For more information on Kelvin Jones visit his official website: http://bit.ly/1SYhsQn
(Thanks to Anthony Giannaccini at Wilful Publicity for help with this review)
