To Everything A Season
The Magic Lantern
Hectic Eclectic Records.
★★★★
Charles Mingus believed that describing music solely as jazz was limiting, and that was probably a valid point of view. The music on this recording cannot be strictly categorised as jazz. It features a backing band of talented English jazz musicians who support and complement the singer’s performance without overwhelming it. The album was recorded at La Buissonne Studios in France, known for its ECM jazz recordings. The music is best described as jazz adjacent, but it feels more organic and closer to modern folk music.
This emotionally charged fifth album from singer-songwriter and composer Jamie Doe, who uses the pseudonym The Magic Lantern, explores the vast depth of human experience in a quest for meaning, offering tremendous rewards. Doe has a poet’s gift for lyrical composition and a unique voice. His songs primarily reflect his personal experiences, including the birth of his daughter and the loss of his father to dementia just six weeks later.
Among the standout tracks are ‘Two in One’, ‘Loops’ and ‘Joy is a Choice’. These pieces are not only beautiful but also deeply emotional, filled with sadness, yet ultimately celebrating inherited love. Although some songs may struggle to express fully the profound grief of losing a parent, Jamie Doe’s lyrics serve as a poignant reminder that those who have shaped our lives never truly leave us.
Reviewed by Barry O’Sullivan