Postcard of Teboursouk, Tunisia, c. 1900
It's not really that surprising that Euros Childs (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci) would collaborate with Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) - lately, they've both been writing songs that sound like they belong on a Gorky's Zygotic Mynci record. Blake's folky contributions to the last Teenage Fanclub record were my favorites on that album, so I was pleased to hear that he was going to do an album with Childs under the name Jonny. It's pretty clear that Blake took a supporting role in the project, putting the spotlight in the songs on Jonny on Childs' voice (vocally, musically, and lyrically). The only songs on the record that sound much like Blake at all are "Circling the Sun" and "The Good Night" - they're quite good, but they clearly aren't what Jonny is all about.
The bulk of Jonny comes straight out of the Gorky's tradition of goofy, skewed pop and heartfelt, handmade folk songs. The goofy pop numbers on Jonny aren't my favorites - the eleven-minute "Cave Dance" suite is surprisingly enjoyable, but some of the other upbeat tracks are just annoying (the album opener "Wich Is Wich", "Goldmine", "Bread"). Childs' folky songs are uniformly excellent, though, from the wistful "English Lady" and the sweet "I Want to Be Around You" to the somber album closer "Never Alone". Blake's harmonies are a welcome complement to Childs' voice, and the album has a homespun, organic feel to it that brings welcome comparisons to Gorky's Zygotic Mynci's best album, Spanish Dance Troupe.
"I Want to Be Around You" by Jonny
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