Lee Tyler, editor of Blues & Soul, on Jodie Abacus' Take This & Grow Flowers
Now here’s a record I have been waiting for. In 2016, there were rumours that Jodie Abacus was going to drop an album, which instead turned out to be the very respectable EP, For Real Life And Not Pretend. I remember thinking the South Londoner had a new sound and seemed like an artist who wasn’t afraid to take a risk or three.
Fast forward to today and Abacus’ debut Take This & Grow Flowers has fulfilled the promise. With freshness and lyrics with an edge, here is an artist who is both confident and comfortable with his vocal and, with catchy tracks aplenty, the LP has more than enough quality to draw attention from niche and mainstream music fans alike.
It’s 14 tracks deep, and there is lots of standout action. Fruitless Possibilities has a kind of Tears For Fears’ Sowing The Seeds Of Love guitar mixed with an Errol Brown vibe. Hollywood wouldn’t be out of place on an André 3000 or Pharrell Williams release, while Liquor Store Day also has that Pharrell feel. Skin has all the ingredients to propel it chartwards. Fuck You, Pay Me has hit written all over it – he may want to change it to Hey You, Pay Me for radio...
You’ll be hearing a lot more from Jodie in the future.
