Some artists change with a sharp turn or mashing of brakes. Ellis Jones and Trust Fund, though, have shifted from low-key solo concern to fully-fledged power-pop band as though it’s the most natural thing in the world. ‘Seems Unfair’, his second album in 12 months, is the reason why.
Recorded with MJ of Hookworms at his Suburban Home studio, the record treads ground frequented by the New Pornographers as much as ‘Pinkerton’-era Weezer or Teenage Fanclub and is a moreish, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it treat.
It rewards repeat visits by coupling a sharp wit with new-found instrumental heft and a self-referential approach to storytelling, from the importance of parental support to body confidence and a, barely contained, fascination with “limitless” supermarkets.
More than anything, though, ‘Seems Unfair’ is a treasure trove for anyone who prizes great songwriting. Jones has a flair for making complex, layered hooks sound bright and unaffected, while he again has a superb foil in Roxy Brennan of Two White Cranes.
The pair’s vocal interplay lights up Football and 4th August, while Alanna McCardle, formerly of Joanna Gruesome, is also on wonderful form and provides a suitably hazy edge to the chorus of Dreams. Much like Lauren Denitzio’s Worriers, the rotating cast behind Jones provides not an air of detachment but the sense that multiple talents have been mined to enrich the whole.
Big Asda, the album’s penultimate song, is something of a perfect storm. Where it features squalls of fuzz and a screeching lead, it’s also home to a soaring melody as its centrepiece. Here, Jones has crafted a sort of pocket symphony, reconfiguring Jeff Lynne-style ambition in the context of a band dabbling in the jangle of mid-’90s indie-pop.
As Martha did with ‘Courting Strong’ last year, Jones has created something that will live beyond the fashion of its stylistic choices. Great songs, after all, will always be great songs.
Trust Fund Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri November 06 2015 - YORK Fulford Arms
Thu November 12 2015 - LEICESTER Cookie
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