Juan Zelada - High Ceilings & Collarbones
Artist: Juan Zelada
Album: High Ceilings & Collarbones
Label: Decca Records
OUT NOW
Rating: 4/5
Juan Zelada has been making quite a stir over the last twelve months or so with his first couple of singles winning over audiences.
He may have been wowing crowds on his latest tour but this weeks sees him release his debut album High Ceilings and Collarbones - with all the praise he has been receiving and fans he has been picking up it’s hard to believe that this is his debut album.
The Blues Remain may not be the hardest hitting opening track that you will hear on an album this year but it is terribly catchy.
Immediately Zelada shows off his laid back style and sound as he mixes piano with a whole host of brass and what you get is a very soulful jazz track.
Trust me you only need to hear this chorus once before you will find yourself singing. It’s the upbeat and life affirming type of track that has seen him draw comparisons with the likes of Jack Johnson and Paulo Nutini.
There is a change of pace with Breakfast at Spitalfields as Zelada’s vocals are supported by an acoustic guitar for much of the track.
This song really does show off Zelada’s easy listening vocal - it has a really soulful sound to it and you can’t help but swept along with his voice.
There is perhaps more of a country vibe to Baby Be Mine and it couldn’t be more different to the tracks that have gone before it.
Once again this is a really catchy track and it is a highlight of the album while Elsewhere and What Do I Know continue that that bright and breezy feel.
And Zelada’s vocals really are put to the test with the closing track of the album Don’t You Hold Me Down as it is a live performance - and it’s not hard to see why he has been thrilling audiences with all of his shows of late.
You get the feeling that High Ceilings & Collarbones is the type of album that Zelada wanted to make; he really has been left to create his type of music. And we have been left with this really uplifting collection of twelve beautifully crafted songs.
Zelada has also served as producer on the album alongside Matt Lawrence and Rich Chambers and they haven’t gone over the top with that production - Zelada’s vocals have been allowed to take centre stage and really shine.
High Ceilings & Collarbones really announces Juan Zelada as a great performer as well as song-writer and he is a music talent that we should all be keeping an eye on.
Juan Zelada - High Ceilings and Collarbones is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw