Jim Noir
Jim Noir
Barsuk Records
By Doug Wallen
British multi-hyphenate Alan Roberts has created a vibrant gem with his second album as Jim Noir, on which he plays every instrument and guides the songs through lots of candy-coated mood swings. His playful fusion of pop and electronics certainly recalls Hot Chip, but there’s as much Beach Boys influence in the breathy, production-heavy glow. “What U Gonna Do,” meanwhile, mines the Beatles for snappy charm and “Don’t You Worry” could pass for a Beta Band B-side.
Like any true home-taper, Roberts is happily stuck in his head, sculpting surround sound bubblegum writ with meticulous sonic detail. “Happy Day Today” glides sunny vocal harmonies over a thumping beat and later a lush orchestral backdrop, with Roberts mooning the refrain “Oh happy day” over it all in a moment of day-dreamy levity worthy of the Flaming Lips. He’s especially silly on “Good Old Vinyl,” again piling on layers of harmonies and this time musing, “I’ve broken all my favorite CDs / And soon I won’t be able to get them no more.”
From there, “Same Place Holiday” is funkier, “Day By Day By Day” is more glitchy and electronic, and “Welcome CJ” taps into swirling ‘60s psych. “On A Different Shelf” is a squishy tropicalia-tinged ballad that nicely brings out Roberts’ accent, leaving the closing instrumental “Forever Endeavor” to see us out with Eno-inspired waves of ambience and sampled birds chirping.
Jim Noir may not be anything truly new in the end, but Roberts can always be relied upon to configure his beloved influences into an increasingly pleasing model of electro-pop that’s breezily listenable but also quite dense.
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