ALICE JAGO - LOOK TO THE SKY
Alice Jago - Look to the Sky
Words: Corey Grange
Alice Jago's new album Look to the Sky is a right beauty, but I don't need to tell you that, you know it already. After a smashing tour supporting Damo Dempsey, Jago is proving her worth on this one. Opener 'High Times' hits us with an intro reminiscent of Motown, with sultry synths and stunning Glen Campbell-ish guitar work. 'Laugh It Off' is Jago at Joni Mitchell levels, a song about relationship issues and the need to shake them off with a chuckle. 'Ready Now' is the country ode to daydreaming and dropping your fear of change. An instant earworm here too, which means you'll definitely be humming it around the house. Robbie Malone, Dave Hingerty, David Hopkins, Dermot O Hanlon and Luke Coffey, Max Greenwood and Dave Duggan are giving it their all on this album. The entire Irish music scene, essentially. 'Are You Mine' has stunning harmonies and sees Jago pouring her heart out to her fella, wanting to dance and cook for him. The 'Jolene' cover is a standout here, performance-wise. Jago's vocals are achingly tender and fragile. There is feeling and emotion here, which is high praise in our time of music which lacks those qualities. 'Life of Pi' is a swirling song of disillusionment, done in a tremendous fashion. 'Sunday Best' is the most upbeat track on this album, with Jago letting us know we've got "the prettiest face in town"! Cheers Alice! 'Black Tears' is one of the best tracks I've heard all year, musically and lyrically. Absolutely heartwrenching and soul consuming track about family breakdown. 'New Bones' ends the album on a melancholy, downbeat note, but that's truly perfect here. Listen to this album, buy the CD, get on BandCamp. Do what you can. You won't regret it.