Charlie Jones – Love Form

There’s no denying Charlie Jones’ compositional abilities, musicianship, or technical nous. In his virtuosic playing, complex structuring, and obsession with the tactile, organic qualities of live, vintage instruments and amps, he is (as his press release points out) what might be called a “musician’s musician.” The implied problem with such a role, of course, is that artists like Jones may lack appeal for listeners less interested in a focus on theory or authenticity for their own sake.

So it unfortunately proves on Love Form, which proceeds through a series of smoky jazz instrumentals, drawing together a range of accomplished percussionists, shimmering string sections, and Jones’ intricate bass playing; it’s original, atmospheric and impeccably executed, revealing painstaking craftsmanship in structure and instrumentation. Nonetheless, the LP still struggles to transcend the category of incidental, background music; despite Jones’ talents, a greater sense of weight and narrative is ultimately needed to do so. [Sam Wiseman]