And a strange thing to be releasing and promoting personal music while there is so much suffering & coarse hatred combing through the world right now…The Fife-born artist Jacob Alon has only released two songs but is already drawing comparisons to Jeff Buckley thanks to their extraordinary voice. If you haven’t heard of Jacob yet, it won’t be long.
Alon says Pals have kindly reminded me that there is maybe a deeper importance to bringing art into the world against these tides of cruelty. I’m trying to remember and keep that in focus. And fuck it, it’s not the most important or vital thing right now, but if it brings a moment of consolation from the fascism then that’s more than I could ask for.
How cool that it will be yours as much this time next week. Thank you for being here with me up until this special moment – I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have yis with me, Alon signed with a manager and then to Island Records, who paired them with producer Dan Carey – which might seem an odd choice to those who know the Speedy Wunderground co-founder for his work with scowling rockers like Fontaines DC and Black Midi. But it’s a stroke of genius to those familiar with Carey’s earlier work,
Jacob Alon releases his debut Dan Carey produced album on Island. Alon crashed with Carey while working on new music, of which an overarching theme will be limerence: the state of intense romantic longing for someone who often does not reciprocate. Those who have experienced limerence will know it can lead to obsessive thoughts – an infatuation that overlooks any flaws or, indeed, turns those flaws into an attractive trait.
The fragile melody of “Confession”, meanwhile, captures the crushing confusion Jacob felt when an ex-boyfriend denied their relationship had ever happened. “It was such a deep rejection,” they recall. “I was so confused that [they] couldn’t come to terms with how they’d felt once, under all the layers of tragic, tragic shame
It was only last November when Alon performed their debut single “Fairy in a Bottle” on Later… With Jools Holland, barefoot and adorned in golden feathers and a scarlet cowl. With their tumble of dark curls and glitter-dusted cheeks, Alon brought to mind some fantastical creature of Arthur Rackham’s imagination. When they sing, it’s with a voice redolent of Jeff Buckley or Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, soaring from a chest-deep croon into a piercing cry.
Jacob Alon performs “Fairy in a Bottle” on Later… with Jools Holland. As a writer, Jacob can be equally tender and ruthless. On “Liquid Gold 25″, external named after a brand of poppers, they tackle the soul-crushing experience of queer dating apps like Grindr, singing: “This is where love comes to die.”
I am so indescribably proud of this record. And so grateful to have had the support and space to make it.
As a writer, Alon is fearless – their songs like sacred hymns, washing away shame and self-loathing by confronting those feelings head on. As a singer, they are extraordinary – in possession of one of the most remarkable voices of their generation.
The Fat Angel Sings 