Clearly deciding that they changed quantity of members enough to warrant it, The James Cleaver Quintet have shed their skin a little and trimmed down to The JCQ, which is arguably their better known guise anyway.
Returning for album two with Hassle Records, ‘Mechanical Young’ sees the band filtering the chaos a little. The additional elements in their first album compared to their early EPs came through raw, and though it largely worked, each experimental part here feels considered and arrives with purpose.
The band’s sound at the core, though, remains the same. The same haunting vocals drift across gritty rock, and though there’s more synth and walls of noise than there is math these days, The JCQ still make that special kind of technical, basement rock that the UK scene is so good at producing. Not so long ago, The JCQ found it a little hard to step out from under the shadow of bands like Blakfish, but these days they’ve moved to achieve success on their own terms and create their own, unique sound.
Tracks like ‘Aspidistra’, ‘Amidship & Afloat’ and ‘Plainview’ are absolute belters, and the new line up feels cohesive, sustainable and smart. Sonically, each member is pulling their weight here, and the album ends up being strong and versatile for it.
Hopefully with ‘Mechincal Young’ The JCQ can finally make the step up that some of their label mates have made in recent years. Hard work does not automatically mean a free pass to the larger slots in the UK scene, but it feels like the time is coming around for bands like The JCQ, and the strength of ‘Mechanical Young’ should set them in good stead to show their craft off to a wider audience – and it won’t have come a day too soon.
TOM AYLOTT