Jungle made a name for themselves by creating easy listening melodies steeped in swing and good feels. First arriving on the scene in 2013 as a duo known as J and T, they now perform and record as a seven piece band on their second album, ‘For Ever'.
Thirteen songs long, and featuring zero collaborations, Jungle’s core sound has been carried over from their debut LP here. Melancholy and tension are, however, explored more deeply alongside a fresh, more aggravated state of being.
Childhood pals Tom McFarland and Josh Lloyd-Watson, aka J and T, have both endured heartbreak during their hiatus from the charts. Both men separated and relocated to invest in the development of their long-term relationships, which subsequently fell apart.
And such is the artist’s plight. Pain equalled progress and torture revealed heightened talent. Home and (More and More) It Ain't Easy are strong tracks but also poignant examples of their emotional distress. A solo voice sings despondently, its words indecipherable, like an internal monologue, confused and exhausted.
The production feels more simple and less grandiose here. Tom and Josh are clearly confident that their audiences have the ability to understand the quiet moments, just as they are settled in the joy-filled, crashing crescendos of Heavy, California, and Smile.
Mama Oh No is concrete evidence of Jungle’s journey of self exploration. The style over substance accusations that have followed them are challenged here with eerie riffs, intently driven electronic arrangements and atmospheres substantial enough to consume, envelop and provoke. It's followed by House in LA stepping the tempo down a level as a winding violin ebbs and flows, introducing a yearning, burning reminiscence of a love lost.
There is more to Jungle than even the founders first allowed us to believe and a more textured approach to mood and depth benefits the band’s sound. ‘For Ever’ is a warm album for autumnal nights and new beginnings.
Jungle Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed February 13 2019 - NORWICH Norwich Nick Rayns LCR UEA
Fri February 15 2019 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy
Sat February 16 2019 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Mon February 18 2019 - DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
Thu February 21 2019 - LONDON Alexandra Palace
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