Fresh Out Of Air is a record you could sip a cocktail to on a Friday night or crank to max volume after a breakup.
Where’s Jai have successfully showcased personality, charm and depth on their debut album. They comfortably communicate a number of diverse genres while exuding a strong sense of fun, intertwined with passion and soul. If there was a piece of advice to offer any listener…Don’t be afraid to let your hair down on this one.
Rosaline sets the overarching fun tone of the album with a tremendous uplifting feel and an irresistible danceable chorus, War Underwater takes it down a peg, a slow speakeasy swayable song. The underwater theme is captured in the transient guitar tones and mellow keys. The band crescendos this song particularly well.
Ka-Cash reveals their reggae side, balanced with a staple pop/rock chorus. Perhaps the song is a hat tip to its Aotearoa dub roots. The keys on this track also give it a rocky horror, suspenseful feel. As a rocker myself, I was itching to hear a guitar solo on this album, that itch was safely scratched on with the face melter that featured on Ka-Cash.
Hudson was an enigma for me, a soft ‘metallicaesque’ Spanish guitar evolved into dark rock. The whispering backing vocals instantly remind me of another kiwi artist – as a north shore band maybe they’re taking inspiration from their once local hero. The track is well able to stand on its two feet nonetheless and serves as a slightly darker number on the album.
The album has two ballads. The Square and the title track Fresh Out Of Air; the ballads equilibrate the overall tempo of the album. Fresh Out Of Air is the slower of the two, gorgeous strings with a charming snare driven outro. I found myself sinking into the 6 / 8 tempo here, this sings to the band’s ability to lay down a good groove.
My personal favourite, mind you, was Greenhouse… what an opening track! Time to headbang folks, a heavy rock number with a ballsy recurring riff that will have crowds (hopefully) moshing on their upcoming tour. Tell Me features gorgeous buttery guitar tones, dreamy falsettos and well-crafted vocal lines while Skinny Love (don’t be fooled – it’s not a Bon Iver cover!) is a moody soft piano number, peppered with tingly percussive tambourine shakes.
This record is well produced and polished with a fine comb. Where’s Jai obviously understands their dynamics as a band and knows how to communicate a palatable groove. They’re not scared to step out of their pop/rock shoes and dip toes into reggae, hard rock and soul. From churning out successful singles, they must be delighted to finally release this to the world.
I’m disappointed I can’t make the San Fran Show; I would love to catch these cats live in Wellington. Wishing them all the best on the tour and release campaign. At such a young age their future is glowing bright.
