Album review: JAKKO M. JAKSZYK – Secrets & Lies

On Sunday 11 October, in the first hour of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, David Randall chatted to Jakko M. Jakszyk about his career with tracks from the new album.

JAKKO M. JAKSZYK - Secrets & Lies

InsideOut Music [Release date 23.10.20]

Jakko M Jakszyk hasn’t had too much success with record labels. In the eighties he fell foul of two which went bust and stymied the release of his solo works. Normal service was partially resumed in the 1990s when Voiceprint issued various titles but even these have remained long out of print following that label’s demise.

A new solo album is therefore long overdue – in fact the previous outing was 2006 which again was blighted by label issues finally appearing in 2009. A fresh re-evaluation of his work is also welcome on the back of the new release.

As an artist he’s something of a chameleon, in the 1990s in between label disappointments he played with Level 42. Since 2002 he has been closely associated with King Crimson – in the form of the 21st Century Schizoid Band which included original members of that band. Eventually Jakko got a gig with the current incarnation of King Crimson and this album features three related tunes, two co-written with Mr.Fripp including the idiosyncratic ‘Separation’.

To be honest, Jakko doesn’t need any big name bunk-up and should be enjoyed in his own right: a multi-instrumentalist with an ear for a good tune. In fact I would go as far to say the Crimson-related stuff is also unnecessary (even in marketing terms) although it does provide more recent context to a career that started in the late-1970s.

Jakszyk’s earlier albums were a product of their age, a definite eighties vibe and none the worse for it. If you like those earlier sorties, you’ll enjoy ‘Secrets & Lies’.

The opener of any album tends to set the scene for the rest of the proceedings but ‘Before I Met You’ is not especially characteristic, an upbeat groove with long-time collaborator Gavin Harrison on drums and one-time boss Mark King on bass.

‘The Trouble With Angels’ is more typical and a real gem and connects firmly with his earlier (eighties) work. This is the type of song Jakko does so well: an attractive vocal and reflective instrumentation this time bolstered by Tony Levin’s bass.

‘Fools Mandate’ reflects an eastern vibe, a co-write with Peter Hammill (Van Der Graaf Generator) who shares vocals. As with ‘Uncertain Times’, Jakszyk shows he is not afraid to touch on political and social themes.

There’s an element of catch-up in a tribute to one-time band colleague in Hatfield & The North Pip Pyle who died in 2006 (‘The Rotter’s Club Is Club Is Closing Down’) whilst two tracks link to Jakszyk’s family history first explored in a BBC radio work ‘The Road To Balinna’ in 1996. ‘The Borders We Traded’ first appeared on ‘Mustard Gas And Roses’(1994) and is paired with ‘Trading Borders’ written by teenage daughter Amber. A Celtic theme appears on the latter reflecting the homeland of his Irish birth mother.

Elsewhere ‘It Would All Make Sense’ is what I would term Classic Jakko with another eighties vibe, a real standout, and there’s even a stirring instrumental ‘Secret Lies & Broken Memories’.

There is enough on this album that is immediate whilst the remainder repays further listens, a sure sign of a quality album. Maybe, finally, Jakko M. Jakszyk will gather up the wider attention he so richly deserves and – moreover – in his own right. ****

Review by David Randall

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Rising Stars: HM JOHNSEN

HM Johnsen is an experimental Indie/Rock Artist from Norway– a singer-songwriter who embraces many styles whilst still managing to stay true to himself and his musical and lyrical vision. On September 4 he released his latest single ‘Stay Within Range’ the second track to be taken from his forthcoming EP ‘Serenity’.

1. You have varied taste in music, can you name some of the bands that have inspired you?

Yes, definitely! There are many of them, but I will list a few for you. Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden, John Mayer, Coldplay, David Bowie, Plini, Led Zeppelin, Hans Zimmer, Herbie Hancock, Chick Korea, The Beatles, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Eric Johnson, Gary Moore, Highasakite, Jeff Beck, Steven Wilson, Foo Fighters, ABBA and many others

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3. Do you find being in Berlin has influenced your musical style and writing?

Extremely! I always thought that going away and living in a new place to be more creative was a myth, but I proved myself wrong. I wrote the whole new EP in 2 weeks, and finished the demos as well. I remember a kind of ‘living in the moment’ state of mind, during the stay in Berlin for 4,5 months. I would go back anytime!! (Just need some more paper in my wallet)

4. When the NRK TV crew flowed your story, how did that feel? What do you think of so called reality shows etc, since you know how it feels to be filmed over an extended period?

Well… I was a 18 at the time, and I thought that world circled around me. For me it was an unbelievable experience, and I really felt that I was finally going somewhere! And it caused a lot of positive things in my life at that time! Regarding Reality TV, I think personally that most of the reality shows around are shit. But, I admit that I fully understand the value of entertainment in those kind of shows, but it’s so not my cup of tea. I’d rather put on Discovery and watch Shark Week, or watch a good movie/series on Netflix.

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What can we expect from your next album? I have always written and experimented with sounds and arrangements from different genres… everything from HipHop, Jazz, Funk, Pop to Hardcore Heavy Progressive Metal. When I was younger I was really digging the guitar as an instrument, and I wanted to be as good of a guitarist as possible. A natural genre for me was the blues, and I attended a lot of Blues Jams etc. I ended up in a competition, and won this Norwegian National Blues thing. For me it was a door opening, even if I never intended to become a ‘blues artist’. It went a bit too far, and I was on my way to attend an international competition in the USA. I had been walking in somebody else shoes from 2017-2019, and I felt more and more that I was locked in a genre, and it felt wrong. I decided to cancel the whole US tour and the competition.

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Yes, I would love to! MUSIC: I would recommend the new album from EIVØR! Its insanely good! A mixture of brilliant and genius pop writing along with traditional folk sounds from Iceland. TV-SHOW: I’m currently addicted to Homeland on Netflix.

www.hmjohnsen.com

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