Well over a year ago, the always reliable Nick at Alien Hits alerted me to the wonder that is a one man boyband Juvelen (meaning Jewel) and I patiently, then impatiently waited for his debut album. And finally, it's here! Titled "1", it may end up being one of the most important debut albums (along of course with the hotly anticipated Alter Boy) to hit the stores this year. Coming across like a creamy Swedish Prince (the singer not royalty), Jonas Peterson has produced one of the best straight up pop albums of 2008. Dripping in synths, pop meshed with elements of hip hop and rhythms ranging from sensuous to pounding, Juvelen is all you could want in a future superstar.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Juvelen is another 80s/Prince wannabe. His music stretches much further than that, and is most easily broken down into two camps - the blistering dancefloor fillers that may indeed earn him the tag by lazy journalists as "the male Robyn"; and the smooth operator, slowed down flirty bertie who is going to loosen his tie and make suggestive tongue gestures at you all night. Both of course are very good and very welcome additions to the world of popular music. The former batch of tunes consists of simply sizzling tracks like Don't Mess (which seems instantly recognisable and new at the same time, with nods to artists like Cyndi Lauper and the Jackson Five) and Hanna (surely a dancefloor anthem in waiting, this gorgeous pop gem is overflowing with seductive electro noises, pulsating bass and a hook so catchy it should be listed as a communicable disease). Similarly, while not as intense, They Don't Love You and Money Don't Talk sees Juvelen positively spit out his lyrics over 80s drenched instrumentation and alluring grooves. The latter selection of tunes ranges from Erasure-esque cuteness on Watch Your Step (of which there is also an insane remix which totally deconstructs the tune) with sparse verses focusing on the lyrics leading into a lovely chorus and the amazing A Dream which comes across as a mix of Tommy Page meets Prince by way of a pre-pretentious Darren Hayes and is all the better for it.
Every single track on this album could be a single, yet it doesn't feel like a disjointed singles collection. Indeed it's a cohesive and addictive piece of work that deserves a much much wider platform...
LINK: Buy Juvelen - 1 here
Well over a year ago, the always reliable Nick at Alien Hits alerted me to the wonder that is a one man boyband Juvelen (meaning Jewel) and I patiently, then impatiently waited for his debut album. And finally, it's here! Titled "1", it may end up being one of the most important debut albums (along of course with the hotly anticipated Alter Boy) to hit the stores this year. Coming across like a creamy Swedish Prince (the singer not royalty), Jonas Peterson has produced one of the best straight up pop albums of 2008. Dripping in synths, pop meshed with elements of hip hop and rhythms ranging from sensuous to pounding, Juvelen is all you could want in a future superstar.
