Jade Imagine: You Remind Me Of Something I've Lost

- There’s always a small case of pride when you follow bands from their first release onwards and I’m always beaming when Jade Imagine put out a new record. A brainchild of their namesake Jade McInally, the band’s ranks have now been bolstered by Tim Harvey and James Harvery, both becoming regular members. Two releases deep into their discography and every release so far has been hit so far out of the park that Ricky Ponting told Shaun Pollock to go fetch it…or Sir Viv Richards told an unnamed English Country cricketer the same thing, depending on what side of the memetic sledge you fall on. We’ve been given a short follow up to the full length Basic Love and given the minimised run time, you’d be forgiven for thinking these were strays from last year’s effort. In fact, You Remind Me of Something I’ve Lost has an introspective near meditative feel to it, and after a stellar debut album, this kind of reflection is an emotive reset continuing the momentum.

The title itself is lifted right out of the opening song, which, in itself, sounds like the internal monologue of a retiree sitting in their well earned villa or lazing back on a balcony, overlooking the sandy television. It also works a style that Jade Imagine do well, one they’ve made their own. It’s initially unassuming indie rock but upon multiple listens, you realise what’s actually on offer. A drumming style largely devoid of cymbals bops steadily along, with the jangled chords wrapped in gentle effects. McInally’s subdued, poignant delivery is what we’ve come to know and love. The dual layering of the main vocals lulls the listener into a sweet dream state; it’s something reinforced by the cheeky amount of phaser. This builds up to the three minute mark and opens up with perfect timing and the line “what’s so wrong with quitting and going back to the beginning?”, which is exactly what this song is. Heavy Machine starts with an awkwardly timed, plucked melody. Once the drums kick in though, this same awkward melody refuses to work within its assigned bars in a disarmingly groovy fashion. An atonal interjection follows this climactic centre point. There’s some call and response vocals sliding into claps that round out the song. My only gripe is wishing it went longer but, you know, always leave them wanting. Vocal interplay and well placed dissonance come back on Things Just Happen For You and doubles the length of its predecessor. It revolves around three simple elements: a clean guitar motif, a basic drum loop, and the use of the song’s title as a refrain. A noisy guitar comes in from the next room over and dips in and out. It’s a song that screams to have a music video made with someone staring in a melancholy way out of a rain spattered window. Rounding out the short release, Feelin’ Blue continues the downtrodden feeling with an ethereal guitar sparkle and airy vocals, being far more engaging than it had any right to be.

To keep the momentum going after a well received album without retreading the same worn path is tricky but Jade Imagine walk with confidence, proudly brandishing a few new additions to their arsenal in the process. A majority of this release lilts through its material but never puts you to sleep. The remainder exemplifies the simmering sound this band does oh so well.

- Matt Lynch.
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