Laurence Jones – On My Own
Anyone who has followed the career of this British blues rocker will find his new album surprising. The title ‘On My Own’ gives it away a little, and the fact that ‘Band’ has disappeared from his name is a second hint. Laurence Jones has indeed sung and played this album entirely on his own. Born on 13 February 1992 near Liverpool, Jones has made a name for himself as a guitar virtuoso since his debut album ‘Thunder In The Sky’ in 2012, building an impressive career with solid, melodic blues, always accompanied by a band until now.
‘On My Own’ is Jones’s tenth album, and all eleven tracks are his own compositions. Production was handled by Jones and Wayne Proctor, known among other things as the drummer of King King. The album is the result of a difficult period Jones went through, caused by Crohn’s Disease. This is an inflammation of the digestive tract, a chronic condition Jones has suffered from for years. As expected, the songs are not very cheerful, in fact rather sombre, though towards the end a little more hope and brightness emerge. The sadness is understandable; it is a disease he will never fully recover from. This comes across most strongly in the impressive title track ‘On My Own’, in which he sings: ‘This is the right time/Leaving it all behind/I can feel it in my bones/I’ll be doing it on my own’. Other tracks worthy of mention are the tribute to his grandfather, ‘One Life’, the self-explanatory ‘I’m Giving Up’, and ‘Do You Feel The Same?’, which showcases beautiful guitar work. The final track, ‘Beautiful’ is the only song on the album that brings a touch of cheerfulness and hope.
As mentioned above, this is Laurence Jones’s least cheerful album. Remarkably, he has been able to express his despair and vulnerability across these eleven tracks and deliver it as a valuable work of art. Hats off, outstanding work. (8/10) (Ron Records)
