By now it seems relatively safe to dub Apple Music’s Beats 1 radio a comprehensive success. Artists are premiering exclusive content over the airwaves at a rate that probably has Jay Z crying into a handkerchief worth more than your entire wardrobe. OVO, FKA twigs and Pharrell are just a sample of musicians choosing to drop new tunes on their own shows without so much as a hint of a pre-order option on iTunes. And thankfully, that has led us to this happy occurence: Jamie Woon, the original sonic mould for thousands of Soundcloud electronic R&B artists, has returned to rescue us from the musical doldrums with a brand new track that Pharrell cheekily decided to air on his Beats 1 slot, without Woon’s prior knowledge. Then Disclosure followed suit by showcasing it on Radio 1 and now the song has finally made it online for you to listen at your leisure.
Let’s just take a moment to revel in the comeback of a man who seemed to be determinedly following the path of Jai Paul: releasing a standout project and then sinking back into the shadowy role of producer. Don’t misunderstand me; Woon possesses a Midas touch whether he’s behind the soundboard or in front of the mic but it would have been a crying shame if Mirrorwriting remained the one solo effort he bestowed upon the world. Luckily, now Sharpness has arrived.
We’re served 3 minutes of tightly controlled, low-key funk that wields live instrumentation as a secret weapon- lush and multi-faceted production that’s given an extra edge by D’Angelo-inspired methods of constructing music. As one of my friends poetically put it: ‘It’s like walking through the desert for years drinking your own piss. Then you find a real oasis and that first sip is fucking life-restoring!’ Amen- this single perfectly showcases Woon’s ability to layer multiple melodies in complicated fashion and yet still emerge with a finished product that makes many of his contemporaries’ projects seem overdone and crowded in comparison.
Despite his long hiatus, Jamie Woon’s talent remains mercifully undimmed and Sharpness already suggests his forthcoming album is going to be a highlight of 2015. This knife has no need of a whetstone yet.
Follow @jamiewoon on Twitter now.
Orpheus Speaks 