Listen to the track
here.
Jeb originally hails from Missouri and has lived in Texas, New York and London. He has a fascinating, Zelig-like story, all of which feeds into his authentic, experience-infused music. He caught an original Sex Pistols show in Texas, danced to Larry Levan at the
Paradise Garage and witnessed Bambaataa rock Bronx blocks.
He worked in New York's Record City, selling obscure
James Brown singles to Prince Paul, and Fela Kuti vinyl to Brian Eno and
David Byrne - just before they recorded "Remain In Light."
In London he shared a house with Ari Up from The Slits and Neneh Cherry, and forged a bond withAdrian
Sherwood amidst the earth shaking ridims of Jah Shaka's sound system.
With such a rich and varied musical schooling, it's unsurprising that, as Uncut (UK) explains, "Nichols has made an art of assembling various musical modes and merrily fashioning his own hybrids", which Record Collector observes have "a unified aesthetic rather than an engineered synthesis."
This joining-of-the-dots between genres seemingly unrelated to the casual novice has won Jeb high regard from clued up heads, but has also contributed to his occupying a nebulous space within pigeonhole happy popular music. He has steadfastly ploughed his own furrow, navigating a route around mainstream recognition, at times over rocky terrain.
Which brings us to "Country Hustle," his highly anticipated full-length album, featuring tracks such as the laid back, late night soul of "Regret" which sets the tone for Jeb's autobiographical, self-deprecating and honest lyrical style. On "Katie Blue" Jeb channels
James Brown and
Massive Attack into his own unique, forlorn ode. Balearic boogie blends with Funkadelia and subtle dub flourishes on Jeb's personal but universal tribute "Long Live The Loser" and on "Maisy Hay" Nichols' love for
Tony Joe White shines through.
His take on Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much" takes on spiritual pathos and warming charm, with deep fathoms of emotion also apparent on the American gothic meets metallic clang of "That's All I Want."
"That's How We're Living" is gritty, smokin' funk akin to Curtis
Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, delivered with heavy new sonic clout and a hip hop sensibility. Live favourite "Till The Teardrops Stop" is happy/sad ode to dancing, friendship and drowning sorrows. Equally tear-jerking is the country got soul style "You Got In."
Those not familiar with Jeb may have unknowingly heard his music on the Oscar nominated soundtrack toGus Van Sant's "Good Will Hunting." Back then, in the Nineties, he was signed to
Capitol Records by Gary Gersch - the man who signed Nirvana and Guns N Roses. Somewhat notoriously so, he shunned a life on the road (the approach that was viewed by
Capitol as the sole path to success in America) and was subsequently dropped.
But despite a long, sporadic gestation period during which at times Jeb has pursued other interests like writing and art, "Country Hustle" marks the next phase as his most focussed, ramped-up and viable shot at recognition to date.
Following choice prior achievements like a
Rough Trade Album Of The Month for "Jeb Loy Nichols Special," live work with
Lucinda Williams and Lambchop, plus his acclaimed "Country Got Soul" compilations, the release earlier this year of his mini album "Ya Smell Me" (alongside the reissue of reggae gem "Long Time Traveller" via On-U Sound) saw Jeb gain widespread acclaim, marking the beginning of what promises to be a new peak for the artist.
"Country Hustle" drops in North America on March 31st, 2017. Pre-order your copy
here.
