Jamie Woon has gone from vague notoriety to the hottest thing since the invention of peanut butter and jam. Three years in the making his debut album delivers what the great hysteria has for so long promised. An honest emotional arrival it’s a melodic and dynamic piece of music that overflows with the touch of its lengthy inception.

Leading track the dark and seductive ‘Night Air’ magnificently illustrates with pulsating beats and spiritual echoes the reach of this singer, songwriter and producer’s magnetising voice. Full of wondering atmosphere Woon also admits there are three other tracks about walking too.

Arrangement wise Mirrorwriting is perfectly current yet equally pioneering. Separate production comes courtesy from the amazing Burial and Ramadanman and during the recording process he even shared a flat in south London with jazz cinematic geniuses Portico Quartet.

Quoted as a calling this a calming record, personal and almost therapeutic made for himself and for other people, Jamie has landed a dream-like release full of unsettled melancholy. His luscious voice is sprinkled across a support-system of synths and deep base beats which have had him being compared in parts with post-dubstep peers. But clear influences throughout like his love for 80’s and 90’s rnb, soul, pop, garage and blues shatter any preconceptions of one description. This is ambient soul for the underground dance head and the folk/soul lover alike.

The screeching chorus of ‘Lady Luck’ is a sure favourite while ‘Spirits’ is an tribal-like trip hop looping anthem that illustrates Jamie’s vocal range and which makes similarities to singers like Dallas Tamaira from Fat Freddy’s Drop or Mara TK from Electric Wire Hustle hard to avoid. ‘Secondbreath’ is a hidden instrumental gem while ‘Gravity’ with acoustic guitar strums over a stream of minimal electronic waves just takes the biscuit.

Words Ali Raymond
Jamie Woon website
Buy Mirrorwriting