Jape – Ritual

‘Cosmosphere’ was good, ‘Monkeys in the Zoo…’ was brilliant, ‘Ritual’ is ten times better than both of them put together. Thoroughly enjoyable effort from one of Ireland’s finest. This album has everything Jape’s last two albums were missing. The songwriting is complete and accomplished, there’s nothing to disappoint.

The beats and programming is top notch, subtlety mixed with the not so subtle. The album opens with the catchy, yet puzzling, ‘Christopher and Anthony’, with a high tempo, pop inspired electro beat and clever lyrics. In fact the lyrics throughout the album are Richie at his best. Clever, witty and bizarre. The theme continues through ‘I Was A Man’, with a line to rival ‘Floating’s’ opener, “I popped my cherry to November Rain, I think she liked but don’t think she came”, it’s simple but brilliant. The synth work and programming here is prodigious.

Not to disappoint too early, which ‘Monkeys’ did a little, the upbeat tempo on ‘Replays’ keeps the foot tapping and the head nodding. The beat, guitar, lyrics and excellent use of vocoder pushes Jape beyond where he’s been before. Another gem of a lyric comes in ‘Graveyard’, “It’s such a short, short distance from the nipple to the soil”. I know people usually like lyrics that are fancy and pretentious but these are fantastic.

The momentum begins to let up slightly from ‘Graveyard’ into ‘Phil Lynott’, a rousing tribute to another of Ireland’s finest bass players. Really nicely crafted acoustic number with a rolling lyric style, again peppered with brilliantly conspired words. At this point you find the crossover from previous albums into the new work. It’s classically Jape but written with the experience of two albums.

A live favourite of mine, ‘Streetwise’ quickly drags the album back out of it’s short lived slumber with a catchy lead synth and a slow, dance beat. I love the pitched vocals on the chorus. It conjures up so many images that you just don’t know what he’s on about. I don’t think there’s much meaning behind it all, it’s just fun. “We smoked a teabag, to see what would happen”, I’ll say no more about the lyrics. The ending is classic hands in the air fun, you can’t clap enough.

‘At the Heart of All of This Strangeness’, takes it down a notch again to keep the balance of the album in check. Another sweet acoustic number, Richie’s voice is starting to shine. He’s not the greatest singer ever, especially technically, but there’s so much heart and passion in everything he says, it doesn’t matter. ‘Apple in an Orchard’ kicks the notch straight back up and adds a few more to boot. Another great beat with awesome wah-wah guitar and a great bass line. This album is just fun, fun, fun. It’s what music is all about. Makes you feel good, makes you smile, makes you think, makes you dance, makes you nod your head like an idiot, and ultimately leaves you reeling in awe.

I’d be happy if the album ended there, but it doesn’t. In fact there’s two more songs, possibly the two best songs to come from Jape, or Ireland in the last 10 years.

‘Strike Me Down’ carries the beat of the whole album and sums it up into a pulsating guitar driven electro heaven. Richie at this point is bordering on rapping, but stops just short and slides into a beautiful pre-chorus and chorus. From the second chorus through a nicely implemented solo the song builds into a monstrous mash of beat, rock guitar and beauty.

‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ is a gorgeous way to end an album. The intro sounds remarkably like a jingle I heard on a radio somewhere but can’t remember. It’s a simple electric piano with a bouncing delay overlayed with one of Richie’s best vocal performances. This is such a calming, soothing number, it feels like I could just drift away into space and be totally happy at being lost forever. It’s just a pity it’s only for 4 minutes.

Production wise it’s great. The sounds used and the synth work is exceptional. I love that I’m hearing new sounds with each listen. It’s been mixed to perfection and all the sounds work so well together. The combination of guitars and electronics is rare but to top it off with the stunningly witty lyrics is even more so.

Ritual is out now!

www.myspace.com/richiejape

~ by clemsound on June 9, 2008.