Jehan Gonsalkorale – Shooting Ships & Sinking Stars

Author

Marisa Wikramanayake

Published

Tuesday 19th May

There are only seven songs on this album but every single one of them is worth a listen. With a Tom Higgenson like touch on the guitar strings, Jehan starts off by strumming his way into Self Portrait, the first song on the album. All the songs have a melodic quality to them, At The Gate, being one in particular where the melody itself is hypnotic. It is a relaxing and ambient, punctuated only by the well placed drum beats. The overall sense of sound and lyrical style reminds you slightly of John Mayer but mostly of Bob Evans’ softer moments.

The songs are well crafted, Jehan having honed his vocal and composition skills while on break overseas working with Nick Drake. His influences are clear: Josh Pyke being one. As for the stand out songs on this album, you can’t go past Better Than Two and Upon Closed Eyes. The former is a huge favourite with fans and has clever lyrics making it easily sung along to as Jehan argues for the simplicity in being single.

Upon Closed Eyes easily wins out as best track. It is an instrumental piece with lovely guitar work that makes it sound like a guitar solo cross between The Eagles and The Gypsy Kings but softer and slower and less hard core rock. In fact, it should remind you of Ko Otani’s work for the Haibane Renmei score. Soft, soothing, lyrically clever, this is an album you cannot afford to miss.

Additional Notes: Jehan is on myspace at myspace/jehangonsalkorale