Jann Klose - Surrender

  by Lisa Torem

published: 20 / 3 / 2023

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Review

After hearing the musical arrangements of 2007’s ‘Reverie,’ this singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist whet my appetite for more. Jann Klose’s early album featured the jazz-driven extravaganza ‘Clouds,’ the blissfully romantic ‘Beautiful Dream’ and the subtly arranged strings and arpeggiated piano of ‘Question of the Heart,’ over which his sonorous voice soared. The ever-enthusiastic artist has participated in an array of projects, including film soundtrack work and performance on the likes of ‘Married Young’ and ‘Greetings from Tim Buckley.’ He moderates the popular podcast, ‘Making Sound’, and has been first in line to offer humanitarian help when the need arises, through his support of special needs, social justice and childhood nutrition causes. But as for the near future, Klose will release studio album, ‘Surrender’ in March of 2023. The album is not exactly under wraps; his fanbase has already enjoyed hearing key singles, such as the highly-ranked ‘Sugar My,’ but ‘Surrender’ completes the cycle with a thrilling ride through the Queens-based musician’s cerebral balladry. Lyrics of the title-song: ‘Throw the weapons down/Say the words out loud,’ validate Klose’s take no prisoners songwriting approach, which has been consistently evocative and precise. While the verses of ‘Here in My Heart’ document a struggle to find true love, the lyrics of the bridge and chorus celebrate a joyous conclusion. In ‘All The Way Down,’ his instrument works in perfect tandem with the backing vocals. The finely-structured ‘Flesh and Blood’ is a passionate cry for human acknowledgment and purpose within the confines of a complex, romantic relationship. ‘Do You Want To Be Lonely,’ perhaps the most haunting track, both thematically and instrumentally, features a killer bassline and varied percussion. The contagious rhythms and casual intonation of ‘Pilot Light’ brought to my mind the likes of Ben Harper and Jason Mraz. The metaphorical approach worked like a charm. The aforementioned ‘Sugar My,’ check out the related video, imbues essential pop elements. ‘Surrender’ strikes a balance between richly produced and stripped-down, folk-oriented numbers. As such, ‘Stay the Same’ is notable for the heartfelt lead vocals and emphasis on acoustic guitar--as the song progresses, however, the synth takes a giant leap forward. Moreover, Klose takes full advantage of his multi-octave range in the bridge. ‘Even If It Takes a Lifetime’ contrasts with a distinctive wall-of-sound. When crooning, ‘Standing at the crossroads/if only I can see the signs,’ Jann verifies he is no stranger to vulnerability. ‘Love You the Most’ (Acoustic version), with Alicia Madison, boasts stunning harmonic changes. Both artists generate a sincerity often lost in studio-produced duets. Spanish-language version, ‘Te Amare Mas’ will undoubtedly find favour in both Spanish and English-speaking communities.

Track Listing:-

1 Surrender
2 Sugar My
3 Pilot Light
4 Love You the Most
5 Do You Want to Be Lonely
6 Flesh and Blood
7 All the Way Down
8 Here in My Heart
9 Stay the Same
10 Even If it Takes a Lifetime

Band Links:-

http://jannklose.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jann.klose
https://twitter.com/JannKloseBand
https://www.youtube.com/jannklose

Play in YouTube:-

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