It's Jo & Danny - 'But We Have The Music' (Double Snazzy)
3/5
By: Thomas Hannan
Despite featuring as much apparent talent as any notable classic rock, just as many potentially corrupting lyrics as any hip-hop collective, and equally as unique a style as either have to offer, folk-music just doesn't seem to be connecting with the kids; maybe it's the penchant for beards, who knows. Whatever, it's got Jo & Danny in its grasp though, and they're out to spread the word.
This graceful, modest record is an album with an acoustic guitar strummed close to its heart, peppered with playful electronic meanderings, highland fiddle players and, well, inner-city Cardiff rap. Pretty successful in parts it all is, too. 'But We Have The Music' is crammed full of luscious melody, gentle song-crafting and an overriding comforting sentiment. In Jo (no surnames here) as well, there's a not-so-secret weapon of an inescapably charming voice, Danny the backdrop-conjuror to such sweet tones.
As far as there is such a thing, this is the sound of experimental folk-music. At times, the pair hit the nail exactly on the head, such as on the upbeat, bursting sound of 'A.N.D.' or a near-strident 'Let It Happen'. It's a joy to hear people willing to bring some new ideas to such a traditional structure, but could be improved no end if Jo & Danny had developed it that bit further.
For if the range on 'But We Have...' is the only place all this can go, it's in danger of turning stale before its time. Some diversity in the sound would make the record soar, but as it is, all tracks seem at ease with forging a very similar path to one another. 'But We Have The Music' is not an album of the soaring, glorious heights or intimate and crushing lows that it could have consisted of if some songs were stripped of unnecessary teasing and others taken to the extremes they hint at. Instead, everything seems to be on one unavoidable, if nonetheless always very pleasant, middle-ground.
As such, some really promising moments throughout are buried under some decidedly mediocre ones. 'The Sooner' showcases the work at its most bare, and it's dazzling. The same could be said of a delightful 'Mean', but for every moment of dexterity, there are others where the ideas just don't seem to work. 'Godsend', for example, has possibly the strongest and easily the most memorable, lovable melody on the entire album - but, for some nonsensical reason, decides to surround itself with bongos, repeated beeping noise and a thoroughly strange minute of MC-ing.
Folk-music should be thankful that people are still having quite so many ideas and are continuing to be this openly enthusiastic about it. The album-title itself is taken from a Leonard Cohen quote - 'we are ugly, but we have the music'. Jo & Danny have the music, that's for sure. It certainly isn't ugly, it's just wearing a little too much make-up. Underneath it all, it's got the capacity to be naturally gorgeous.
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