Paul Jacks - Black Jackal
PAUL JACKS DROPS EXCELLENT ‘BLACK JACKAL’
Alaska-based multi-instrumentalist Paul Jacks introduces his new album, Black Jackal, which probes into the concepts of personality and seclusion.
Paul Jacks | Photo: Maddy Jacks-Green
Borrowing from Egyptian mythology, Jacks escorts listeners on a “journey into the dark to discover the light which has the power to transform us.”
The album’s sound reveals potent aromas of retro new wave and Gothic, accompanied by electronic pianos, orchestral flavors, brass, syncopated synths, and shadowy harmonies, along with a mixture of live and electronic drums played by Jacks and Dan Konopka.
Side A, made up of five-tracks, represent a “pre-apocalyptic state,” while Side B looks at the aftereffects of the apocalypse.
Comprising 10-tracks, Black Jackal commences with “Lunacy’s Back,” featuring glistening synths riding a contagious rhythm echoing ‘80s new wave flavors. Jack’s voice, cool and lush, imbues the lyrics with delicious old-school timbres, while horns glow and bray in the backdrop.
Standout tracks include “The Hunger,” with its surging industrial-new wave push mixed with poppy-coloration. On this track, Jack’s voice takes on smoldering sensual tones, at once yearning and risky.
Jacks’ voice, polished yet mysterious, makes this track especially excellent. Lustrous layers of sound balance the dark droning coloration.
“I feel the hunger tonight / Got my blood to a boil / Will you cure me somehow? / Before I imitate.”
The title track travels on a Bowie-like melody as art-pop waves flow over the matrix of the swaying rhythm.
“Always Something To It” changes things up a bit, adding a Billy Joel-Esque piano-rock touch, along with hints of Brit-invasion hues. I love the percussion on this track, thick and crisp, contrasted against the luminous filaments of harmonic colors.
“In Between Us” echoes low-slung dark tones, imbuing the tune with a steady, rolling pressure. Jacks’ voice, polished yet mysterious, makes this track especially excellent. Lustrous layers of sound balance the dark droning coloration.
The final track, “Walk Alone” features a charming rhythm topped by Jacks’ echoic vocals, at once pensive and resonant.
Black Jackal is superb, chock-full of radiant sonic tendrils of delectable new wave textures, all capped by the deluxe voice of Paul Jacks.
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