Content’s self-titled first release sets the bar high for the future. Songwriter, musician, and singer Jacob Kinniburgh’s musical tastes spans across a broader than average range. He ties several seemingly disparate threads together, however, with the self-assurance and steady hand of a veteran artist. Nor do the EP’s five tracks seem like the precocious outburst of a musical savant. There’s no doubt in my mind that Kinniburgh is a conscious artist – he has a clear vision for what he wants each song to accomplish, the EP’s larger goals, and accomplishes them efficiently and intelligently. It’s a spellbinding debut.
I knew that after hearing the first song. “Lantern” requires only a few instrumental voices to achieve its desired effect. There’s a swampy quality to this song, the sense of a wayward speaker fumbling their way through a figurative darkness, and the object of Kinniburgh’s desire is an obvious muse figure. Songs like this are as old as time in some respects. Kathleen Halloran’s guitar work makes important contributions throughout the EP but her playing for this song is, arguably, her finest moment on the recording. Her sound and effortless swing are the best kind of ear-candy.
Content raises the stakes with the EP’s second cut. “Coming for You”. It will mean different things for everyone and it’s one of the key aspects of its beauty. I believe his singing is his peak moment on the EP, the nuance he shows each line and how they sometimes dovetail into the next, is mesmerizing. He’s tailored the words to the arrangement with such seamlessness I defy you to identify a single second when the stitching shows.
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Backing vocals play a crucial role. Yin’s accompaniment on songs such as the former track, “Inside”, “Milk and Honey”, and the finale “Just the Day” isn’t indispensable, Kinniburgh’s singing is strong enough to carry the EP, but they sweeten the experience. The background singing for the third song “Inside” is one of the best parts of a fully-realized vocal arrangement, but the remainder of the song isn’t too shabby. It’s another song proudly wearing its dub influences on its figurative sleeve. The lead vocal and loping rhythms are a great match for one another.
“Milk and Honey” has a vocal arrangement a little more cluttered than other songs and it somewhat overshadows the music. Some won’t mind at all but there are sure to be a few who crave a better balance between the singing and music. SK Simeon’s vocal contributions pop with energy and the inspired swing he has makes this even more enjoyable. “Just the Day” brings the self-titled EP to an end with little in the way of surprises. The track does what many closers should do – reaffirm what listeners have heard while adding some new touches that potentially points the way towards the future. There is plenty of the former heard during this song. There are hints of how he may expand his songwriting canvas on future releases, however, without ever moving away from the EP’s core strengths. It’s a powerful release.
Rachel Townsend