Jack Peñate – Matinee

XL Recordings

There may be some who will write Jack Peñate off based on a bias about his associations with The Macabees, appearing on the cover of the NME with Kate Nash, and being a fully-paid up member of the love it or hate it LDN scene. But those people have no taste and are missing out on a true talent. Peñate has a seemingly endless repository of choruses incorporating various styles and a musical panache that’s staggering for one so young. The delectable ska-tinged pop of breakthrough single ‘Torn On The Platform’ is only the tip of the iceberg. The white-boy R’n’B soul groove of the RJD2-produced ‘Learning Lines’ and ‘We Will Be Here’ contrast the indie-rock stomp of ‘Made Of Codes’ and tear-stained balladry of ‘My Yvonne’, showing he has more one string to his bow. When he does pop, he does it at breakneck speed as on current single ‘Second Minute Or Hour’ but he’s not afraid to take the foot off the pedal, confident he has the ability to take the listener in several directions within the space of a few songs and never once risk losing their attention. As an opening gambit on what hopefully will be an illustrious career, ‘Matinee’ is an infectious, exuberant trailer that bodes well for the grit of the feature presentation.

Words_David McLaughlin

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DOWNLOAD: ‘Have I Been A Fool?’, ‘Torn On The Platform’, ‘Got My Favourite’
FOR FANS OF: Jamie T, The Macabees, The Housemartins

Additional Reading:
Jack on the making of Matinee

Issue #51 - I Told You This Would Be A Good Issue

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