Simon D. James' understated indie rocker "Over & Over" has deep hooks

(drawing by Keith J. Neary)

Over & Over by UK singer-songwriter Simon D. James (and from his new EP "Days of Heaven") is a rather understated indie rocker that has deep hooks. The muted guitar and odd pop sensibilities made me think of old school new wave stuff and, in fact, I flashed on Split Enz and The Eels. You fill find yourself singing along to Jame's croon as he bounces the melody in cool ways. His vocal aesthetic, at least, on this track feels part come on but aloof as well and the female vox works perfectly with his sound. "Days of Heaven" veers toward heavier places as well. Hard to nail down his sound but he adeptly blends indie rock, chamber pop, art rock so well. Bonus track below (wink).

-
Robb Donker





BONUS:




THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

Hard to pigeon-hole, this Simon sits and sings somewhere in the Alt Folk / Indie world. You can hear the influence of classic songwriter such as Bowie and Cobain and although full of sonic surprises he has been compared to contemporariness such as: The Decemberists, Vance Joy, Cosmo Sheldrake and Everything Everything.

Simon Started to write music at the age of 16 and has continued ever since. Three tracks on 'Days of Heaven' were recorded and produced by Ben Hampson, who Simon was in a band with as a teenager and it has always been a dream of Simon to work with Ben again. 'Written By Rules' & 'Fooled By You' were recorded at GreenMount Studios where Simon recorded his first EP.

Simon has busked his way around the world and has spent the last years playing music in the Brighton music scene where he started the band that recorded this EP.

''A song full of sonic surprises, I think that's really something... it grows on me with every listen.''

- Tom Robinson - BBC Radio 6 Music

''...refreshingly unselfconscious...''

- Fresh On The Net