Jacob Golden - Revenge Songs

In the new musical world order, where digitised tunes can be emailed or downloaded anywhere, any time, intimacy – that precious sense of communion between listener and performer – has become a rarity. But not in the world of Jacob Golden; and never at any point on his beautiful and powerful album, Revenge Songs. Golden is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from California, who makes music suffused with big and complicated emotions in small, friendly spaces.

Most of his tours grow organically, their bespoke itineraries designed in response to audience requests via Myspace and Mog.com. Last year he toured the East Coast of America, playing 'living room shows' in the front rooms of fans to no more than 40 people at a time. "But you make an unbelievable, lifelong connection with those people." He seldom bothers with recording studios, preferring, when he's away from home, the natural acoustics of underground car parks and a particular subterranean concrete art gallery. "I love the idea of making modern field recordings." The new album came about partly as a result of personal contacts. There were, basically, two conversations. One with David Kosten of Faultline, who fronted him the necessary cash to tidy up his bedroom demos. The other followed an acoustic performance in an LA hotel room which convinced Jeremy Lascelles of Chrysalis Music publishing – the company which recently brought Ray LaMontagne to our attention – that Golden was another unique talent in need of careful tending.

One song from the album, On A Saturday, featured prominently on the last episode of the US drama, The O.C. "I've not seen the show," Golden admits. "But it's been amazing to me how many people noticed the music. I've had calls from all over the world as a result of it."

The simple truth is that, once heard, Golden's music is very, very difficult to ignore or forget. "Revenge Songs is not the kind of album that needs to be rammed down people's throats," he says. "It just needs to be approached quietly and with love."  

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