COLLAGE – Jackson Bell
Release Date: October 7th, 2020
Track Listing:
1. Twisted in the Groves (feat. Traffik)
2. Night Shift
3. IDK
4. No. 9
5. SUSPECT
6. So What (4.6☆)
7. Waves
8. Peach Soju
9. AFAAP
10. Sauna Monkey Pt. 1
11. Sauna Monkey Pt. 2
12. Fog Rolls in, Lights Shine Out
Surrey-based saxophonist and composer Jackson Bell released his debut album, COLLAGE, in early October of 2020. A primarily instrumental assortment of previously unfinished songs, field recordings and demos have been mixed from the grassroots of Bell’s parent’s shed and his bedroom to produce this first release. This album also features Quinn Fortin on guitar, and vocals from Traffik.
“Twisted in the Groves” is appropriately titled with the twisting, contorting sound of the lengthy saxophone introduction. A tempo change comes halfway through the song, followed by piercing and powerful vocals from Traffik. What starts as a whimsical backing instrumental shifts to a groovy hip-hop mix of controlled chaos.
“SUSPECT” melds the hip-hop and jazz stylings of Bell’s talent, blending seamlessly together. This track stands out with its funky sound, which would make anyone want to groove. Using a strong hip-hop beat against the floating and fluctuating saxophone, Bell embarks on a curious exploration of his own unique mixing of genres.
“Peach Soju” sweeps in with its existential and futuristic sound. The intro to this song makes me think of old movies about intergalactic space travel, setting the scene for an out-of-this-world flow throughout the track. Its name matches the sound perfectly – lighthearted, fun and packed full of sweet, intricate flavour notes.
The album ends with “Fog Rolls in, Lights Shine Out,” which acts as the perfect conclusion to a masterfully concocted collection. There is a sense of resolution and movement towards new beginnings that ooze through the gently cascading and smoky saxophone sounds. This track is calming and mellow, but in no way boring; Bell weaves in those delicate layers of all-encompassing noise to create a song that both soothes and excites.
Bell describes the sound of this project as “an eclectic collection of electronic music mixed with jazz, hip-hop, house and ambient,” and I couldn’t agree more. COLLAGE features a complexity of layers, melding genre and pushing the boundaries of style. Not only does he work within the bounds of instrumental – Bell mixes in vintage-sounding clips of dialogue, which add narrative and further interest to his tracks.
