Six albums in and the musical machine that is Jerry Hill isn’t slowing down. Memphis born, but now calling the UK home, Jerry Hull is a prolific pianist and multi-instrumentalist that has been breathing new life into the classic Memphis Sound. Not purely and instrumentalist, Jerry is also a singer, songwriter, and arranger of unparalleled creative output, releasing thirty-nine singles, eleven videos and six albums since April 2015.
Released only a few days ago on May 18th, ‘Strange Afternoons’ is Jerry’s sixth and latest collection of original songs. It’s a rolling journey through sixteen dramatically performed pieces, all of which were written by Jerry himself. An artist proud of his originality, ‘Strange Afternoons’ is the latest in a long line of honest, heartfelt and genuine releases. Honest though it might be, the new album is potentially Jerry’s most experimental to date, offering up cuts like ‘Supercharged Chassis’, that resonates and reverberates in mixed time, and the title track that announces itself with heavy bass and dramatic flair before spiralling into a soaring series of choruses.
It’s a mammoth release, even before digging deep into the intricacies of the record, and it can be difficult to keep up with the vibrant flashes of creativity that Jerry has instilled into ‘Strange Afternoons’. Historically, Jerry has never been one to shy away from daunting releases (his album ‘Cherokee Moon’ held a massive twenty-eight songs), but ‘Strange Afternoons’ is something more. It’s not only an album of impressive scale, but one that holds within it so many shades of Jerry’s sound. Dashing from the simple to the unwaveringly complex, from smooth jazz to dizzying pop, and from heavy 60’s psychedelia to soft Bacharach sentimentality, the album has a slice of everything. In his own words, Jerry said that his new album was designed “to take the listener on an emotional musical roller coaster ride”, and it certainly does.
Pushing relentlessly through wave after wave of evolving styles, ‘Strange Afternoons’ is a breath-taking experience that will leave you lightheaded and giddy. It’s a rampant drive through every style that Jerry has come to master, and it offers up unforgettably adventuress tastes for nearly everyone, guaranteeing a pleasurable experience of quality music and an undeniable resonance.
The album is available digitally from over 150 stores in over 78 countries worldwide including iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon, Google Play and iHeartRadio.
Score: 8.5/10
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