Jones: Hopeland (Meme)

 |   |  <1 min read

Jones: Girl on a Bridge

The surname behind this belongs to Trevor Jones who is one half of Miracle Mile, a British outfit previously featured at Elsewhere (their Coffee and Stars) who deliver glistening, almost ambient, adult pop music which whispers and understates in a poetic, melodic manner -- and which is often rejected by those who don't hear pop perfection as a worthy goal. I do, I like Miracle Mile.

This solo outing (which actually includes contributions from MM's Marcus Cliffe who also co-produced with Jones) is an interesting one: his gentle and seductive songs alternative with short images and poems over light backings of piano, guitar and so on.

In some circles Miracle Mile have been pegged as British alt.country for their use of pedal steel, but that rather misinterprets what they do. The choice of instruments is down to what will complement the music, and if it be pedal steel then so be it.

There is pedal steel here, but also lovely violin and viola behind the soft vocals of Jones.

There is a preciousness about this and of course it could sound like a vanity project, but Miracle Mile are widely regarded as the most overlooked band in Britain despite their often sublime, poetic and literate music.

And Jones here continues in exactly that vein, and perhaps -- sadly -- to just as little appreciation.

A quiet one to enjoy as you would a collection of favourite poems or a sunset.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

Eli Paperboy Reed: 99 Cents Dreams (Yep Roc/Southbound)

Eli Paperboy Reed: 99 Cents Dreams (Yep Roc/Southbound)

Channeling the sound and spirit of classic soul (Smokey, young Otis and Marvin, Al Green, Sam Cooke and more), Eli Paperboy Reed -- a white guy originally from Massachusetts, now in his mid 30s... > Read more

Various Artists: A Day in My Mind's Mind; The Kiwi Psychedelic Scene (Frenzy/Real Groovy)

Various Artists: A Day in My Mind's Mind; The Kiwi Psychedelic Scene (Frenzy/Real Groovy)

A few months ago a friend and I were discussing prog-rock -- it had been a long lunch, this topic doesn't come up often -- and I observed there had been very few great prog statements by Kiwi... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

BRIAN ENO AND THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE: Obscure but not oblique

BRIAN ENO AND THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE: Obscure but not oblique

By happy chance recently I pulled out a vinyl album which has changed my listening habits for these past weeks. It was released 30 years ago but has always struck me as timeless: it is Brian... > Read more

THE BARGAIN BUY: Abba; 4 Original Albums (Polar)

THE BARGAIN BUY: Abba; 4 Original Albums (Polar)

To be honest, I didn't get the appeal of Abba (beyond the obvious pop hooks) until the darkness in some of their songs was explained to me by Chris Knox -- whom I had never taken to have had much... > Read more