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English Fables Vol.1 is the follow up to 2022’s Chippa.
Available now on Bandcamp https://snippetcuts.bandcamp.com/album/english-fables-vol-1
Recorded at home DIY style with a beaten up old tube mic, a nylon stringed guitar and a set of good intentions, this album is chock full of personality, characters and brimming with life.
On English Fables Vol.1 you’ll find an authentic voice delivering stories of the England he knows, of people and of life – all wrapped in musical grit, bounding knee beats, bouncing guitar refrains and beautiful strings, with some wonderfully oddball songs with hooks to die for (Michael, I Knocked You Off The Ladder, Billy With The Wonky Toe).
And in the tradition of the classic English songbook there are wonderful little original gems to be found like Funny Habits, Tip Of My Tongue, Resting Face and Stop And Enjoy it.
There’s even a guest spot for the velvety tones of Marina Florance.
Behind Johnno’s 'survive life by laughing at life' persona there is a real deeper craftmanship in action here, through his enchanting multi instrumentation and clever lyrical interplay.
There’s also a fearlessness from Johnno in covering his battles with chronic health conditions (The Little Things), toxic masculinity faced growing up on a council estate (Patriarchy Vs A Mothers Love), male violence (Punch), the pollution of our waterways (Pipe Dreams), and mental health challenges (Sometimes Life Is Really).
Track 2 Come On Down was apparently born out of listening sessions with Sleaford Mods, Donald Byrd's New Perspective and Dexy's Midnight Runners, with a splash of 7” inch Northern Soul thrown in for good measure, yet it comes out sounding totally upbeat Snippet, totally Johnno in a top mood.
English Fables – Vol.1 is an album of empathy, compassion and warmth - this is beautiful English outsider art from a thriving DIY cottage industry of really interesting recording artists like Johnno Snippet making special musical moments and new memories to bring joy to people.
Back story - Johnno recorded and toured with bands such as Deep Joy who were born out of the early 90’s London acid house/club scene - working with Andrew Weatherall, David Harrow and onto the early years of trip-hop on James Lavelle’s Mo ‘Wax label and being championed by Gilles Peterson. They dented the charts in New York, Tokyo and London and also worked with legendary On-U-Sound label founder and producer Adrian Sherwood.
“Colchester’s king of hooky ear worms - A National Indie Treasure” Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music
"Often thought provoking, the tracks on his new album are possibly his best work to date, an artist clearly in his ascendancy" Louder Than War
“An East End Brian Wilson on a budget” Americana UK
Web www.johnnocasson.co.uk
Instagram www.instagram.com/snippetcuts/
Facebook (Snippet) www.facebook.com/snippetmusic/
Facebook (Johnno) www.facebook.com/johnnomusic
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- Genre
- Indie