Tag: Jon Allen

Born in Winchester, a graduate of LIPA and now based in London, Allen is firmly rooted in 60s and 70s folk and soul, his music unashamedly redolent of his influences. A journeyman in the best sense of the term, he turns a masterly hand to everything from the cocktail of John Martyn and the young Rod Stewart that is the bluesy ‘Night & Day’ and the Dylan boogie (Oh Mercy’s ‘Everything Is Broken’ to be specific) of the lolloping slide guitar ‘All The Money’s Gone’ to the Still Crazy era sound of Simon on ‘Moving On’ and the open tuned finger-picked pastoral blues of ‘Hummingbird Blues’ which weaves together Nick Drake, Jackson C Frank and Donovan. Rod’s there again too, in his Steampacket days, on the uptempo swing groove of ‘Fire In My Heart’ and channelled through laid back Al Green and Dan Penn soul of ‘Loving Arms’ with its Hammond heart and Louise Marshall’s gospel-tinged backing vocals while a younger, more tender, Dylan rears his head again with ‘Wait For Me’.

But, just because pretty much every track prompts a reference (and, while we’re at it, let’s add JJ Cale on the slow funky brass-fattened blues ‘Get What’s Mine’ and ‘Lady Of The Water’ evoking Drake and Cat Stevens sitting in on a Led Zep acoustic session), that in no way diminishes Allen or his songs.

An accomplished guitarist, he also has a beguiling emotional catch to his voice that pulls you into these songs that revolve around a theme pain of relationships ending, letting go, embracing change and (as embodied in the superb CSN&Y imbued title track) starting over, enfolding them into irresistible melodies that sweep you up into their arms.

His third and most accomplished album yet, it may walk recognisable paths, but that in no way makes the journey any the less worth taking.

Mike Davies

Artist’s website https://jonallenmusic.com/