REVIEW: Punk Goes The Velvet (EP) by Jupiter in Velvet
Running through the five track EP, Punk Goes The Velvet is a pulsating, living and breathing energy that can only be obtained through music. It’s the same invisible being that triggers endorphins in a live, concert setting. Jupiter In Velvet, the man behind the EP brings the live experience into the recording studio in this masterful, profoundly creative rock/punk onslaught.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jupiterisvelvet?lang=en
Striking the listener the same way the glam/pop rocker Børns did with “Electric Love”, Jupiter, an American-born, London-based punk figure, channels the likes of Nick Cave, David Bowie, Iggy Popp and even Anthony Kiedis. Without even seeing him, just hearing voice, the listener is a pawn in his hands. He has that ‘it’ factor. And that’s just his voice. I haven’t even mentioned the guitar playing. It turns out he’s self-taught and the guitar sings just as convincingly cool as his voice. It can melt you face off just as quickly as it can sweep you off your feet to dance. Jupiter In Velvet is also quite prolific. Punk Goes The Velvet joins previous releases Shut Off Your Mind, Glitter On The Sun, The World Didn’t Start With U, The ONE In The Many, In2 The Arms Of Love, Beautiful New Day and Anthems 2 Love.
“And So The Earth Stood Still”, the first of the five tracks, starts out with a radio static vibe. Jupiter comes into the picture with a striking force, a voice to behold. He sings the chorus (and so the earth stood still) like a snake slipping into the night. The guitar and rhythmic beat is stellar. Cooling down for no one, the spirited take is a journey into a corridor of 70s rock. And that’s just the first track.
Up next, “Not Again” has a distinctively different tone and flow. You can still tell it is Jupiter In Velvet, though, with the wicked guitar shapes. Jupiter sings of forgiving the other person in the relationship and they are back again. Like an addiction, she’s back and he can’t getting enough of her. There’s a similar energy and tone in the third track, “Please Don’t Ever Let Me Ago”, with Jupiter hitting some higher falsetto turns. I sort of transported into a 90s grunge meets 80s New Romantics/New Wave realm in this track.
The last two tracks, “Dimestore Suave” and “Get Out” are both banging. In “Dimestore Suave” Jupiter plays with the pronunciation and tickles the listener’s ear with lines like be bop a’booma he’s talking, but just hear a noise….he’s got a ma-ma-ma-ma mother who props him up with her nervous hands. The guitar boasts a tizzy when he sings, with a characteristic, well, suave. The power generated in the guitar — in both tracks — is just monstrous. You can’t help but be stuck like glue to Jupiter’s guitar playing skills. Just massive.
APPLE MUSIC: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jupiter-in-velvet/571336815
Overall, Punk Goes The Velvet is a sometimes trippy, but always fun ride. Lots of interesting twists and turns lyrically — at times hard to hear clearly. Nonetheless, these tracks are full of pounding drums, and exceptional guitar playing. Make sure to have Jupiter In Velvet on your radar.
Colin Jordan
