Jon & Abbie – Still Life (2021)
Jon & Abbie are no strangers to The Other Side Reviews but they never fail to impress us. Considering the rave reviews they receive from Rag Talent, YMX, FV Music Blog and Indie Top 39, the duo are creating some positive waves. A collaboration of Pylon Heights’ Jon Sandman and Maud’s Abbie Loosemore, the UK-based pair bring 80s folk into the 21st century. The latest addition to their critically acclaimed discography is ‘Still Life’.
Following their single ‘Marmalade’ (read our review here), ‘Still Life’ embraces a shoegaze meets indie-rock design. Merging the sounds of their alternate groups, the track has an 80s synth-pop sound; however, it is filled with modern-day beats underlying the infectious melody. Considering previous work, Jon & Abbie have a guitar-driven sound but ‘Still Life’ is definitely a synth-influenced swirl of sound.
Known for their eloquent look at loss and love in life, the UK-based duo explores the fragility of the human spirit. More upbeat than the folksy ‘Marmalade’, ‘Still Life’ is the danceable sonic representation of “the afterglow of one reckless night”. Suspending one in mid-air, Sandman’s hushed vocals meld effortlessly with the hypnotic instrumentation. Thing is, while the track has a cheekier sound on the surface, the lyricism remains as poignant as ever.
Yes, the lighthearted lyrics are easily executed by Sandman, but Jon & Abbie continue to delicately delve into the heart of the matter. The morning after the night before can be fun but there are some underlying consequences that Jon & Abbie expose. Teetering on the edge of electropop indifference and indie-rock intimacy, ‘Still Life’ is sentimental and sincere with a dollop of “well, what the hell” on top.
For more from Jon & Abbie check out their Instagram and Spotify.
