When we featured Bristol via London’s The Jacques in 2017 (review here), they were a snarling indie-punk outfit delivering anthems. Good, but just the next in line. Fast forward to 2020, they have far outgrown their youthful polemic.
Their latest EP, ‘Born Sore’, was released last week via Modern Sky Entertainment. Some of the early riff based magic remains. ‘Alka-Seltzer’ is in sync with ‘Eleanor Ring Me’, built upon riffs from Coxon’s play book of ‘Coping’ and ‘Bank Holiday’.
The rest however, explores far different planes. The title track, takes Supergrass’ ‘Eon’ and ‘Born Again’ on a trip down poverty ridden Britain in 2020. The desolation of Shame and the druggy machinations of Fat White Family come roaring to the surface.
Meanwhile, on ‘Kiss The Pharaoh’, the dank world of The Libertines combines with the warped seaside genius of The Horrors’ ‘Primary Colours’. The Horrors again feature on ‘I Never Want to be Your Boyfriend’. Post ‘Skying’, The Horrors have been traversing more blissed out psyche realms. The Jacques have shown them how to do it with the splendour of Phil Spector thrown in for good measure.
Having been through some tough times, The Jacques have emerged the other side better than ever. Their journey has been bumpy but, it seems inevitable that, a great debut album is nigh, right?