Jinski
Album: Live Long
Label: Lucky Smile
Tracks: 5
Website: http://www.jinski.com

The resurgence of vinyl is an interesting phenomenon. As the mass market appears to be polarising towards the consumption of recorded music in a virtual, rather than physical, form, many enthusiasts are retreating from CD to the larger analogue discs that occupied the groaning shelves of us music lovers until the latter part of the 20th century.

One very positive outcome of this trend appears to the provision of a new raison d'etre for the existence of independent record shops which I am sure I will not be alone in being grateful for. Initiatives such as Record Shop Day (April 18th this year) are helping raise the profile of these havens from the mediocrity of the high street chain stores and many artists have produced special pressings of their work to celebrate the day including the Tyneside acoustic duo Jinski. Their EP has been released in a limited edition run of 600 copies and it is worth checking your local record shop to see if it is in stock. Failing that the EP tracks will be available (somewhat ironically!) as a download in the autumn.

The record (its nice to use that word again!) is a mix of previously released material and new songs. Opener 'Live Long in the Day' is taken from the duo's most recent CD 'Down Here' but the next two tracks are the new ones and only available here. 'Never Gonna Work Again' is undoubtedly one of their finest songs with a highly singable chorus and tasty instrumental arrangements whilst 'Top of The Tree' is more laid back but equally listenable. The first track on side two 'Goodbye Lucky Guy' is from Jinski's earlier CD 'Hurry Home' and the last song is the excellent 'Slow Down' again from 'Down Here'.

All the CD extracted tracks are well chosen examples of Steve Wegrzynski's and Dave Kennedy's craft and will please new listeners. Existing Jinski fans though should certainly also dust off their turntables for the opportunity to hear the new tracks.

Having proved that my turntable is still capable of spinning, I am off to reacquaint myself with Steve's debut album, 'Eventually', which I bought on vinyl many years ago when he played an astounding solo gig at the long lost venue of Treadwell's Mill in Bradford.

Joe Grint