It's not that hard to laugh about Jon Allen. The songs of the British singer / songwriter are not always taken seriously, because they are sometimes too studied and not original. Allen once received his bachelor's degree in music from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts founded by Paul McCartney. Maybe that's why his albums Dead Mans Suit (2009) and Sweet Defaur (2011) sounded like studies
… in sixties and seventies pop / rock. Good enough for a pass at school and commercially very interesting, but not earth-shattering in terms of content. Deep River proves that the balance can also turn in the other direction. Allen does not necessarily break new ground on his third record. But every choice he makes - original or not - he makes fantastic. All the quiet songs keep the attention, the raw songs have not only energy but also substance. Each song has a nice melodic find or a cool swipe from the raspy singer. Well-known folk, blues and rock in a well-known guise. But this time it fits perfectly. (JE)more
