Following last December’s roster round-up, Always + Forever, Bristolian imprint, do you have peace? returns with a long-player from Zelda fans, Jabu. The album, A Soft And Gatherable Star, finds the Young Echo affiliated trio further developing and defining their sound. Dub and their hometown sound system culture are still major inspirational factors. Radical rinses of reverb and devilish doses of delay continue to caress and dissolve everything. Percussion hits producing explosions. However, while the music remains a mix of sonic sceneries and atmospheres, the songwriting is more to the fore than on the collective’s previous outings. The lyrics referencing local landmarks, hills, downs, and magic mushrooms, and personal stories attached to them. Remembering lost parents and misspent youths.

The opening Oceanside Spider House, for example, moves away from a stoned deconstruction of  trip hop and instead bears – all be it bass heavy – comparison to The Cure’s Disintegration and the Cocteau Twins. A slow motion shimmer of treated guitars and ethereal vocals it’s a moment of epic melancholic pop that also calls to mind The Cocteaus’ Robin Guthrie’s work with A.R.Kane.

Gently Fade, featuring synth hums and drones care of Birthmark, is a sparse, shadowy jazz ballad (listening I was thinking of a pared back, strung-out Puma Blue). Seamills moves to a sedate aquatic rhythm, while serenaded by Lorenzo Prati’s sax. The reed’s notes, fuzzy, broken and distorted as if replayed from old, dusty vinyl.

Rakhi Singh and Sebastian Gainsborough add strings to All Night, but the strains of their once symphonic fanfares are rendered faded and fragile. Too Careful wanders, woozy, to a waltzing short, cycling melody. Josh Horsley’s cello, on If I Asked You, You’d Tell Me, is washed in waves of carefully constructed texture. The power of these pieces is in their restraint. Their patience and discipline as they generate gentle repeats. Bottling up emotion, intensely holding it in check.

The sound design in places resembles that of the ambient people in PAN’s back catalogue, such as Malibu. Ashes Over Shute Shelve, assisted by the vocals of Daniela Dyson and Memotone’s clarinet, summons the uneasy beauty of Mica Levi’s Under The Skin soundtrack.

Jabu’s A Soft and Gatherable Star can be ordered directly from do you have peace?

While you’re there check out the single, Final Day, which is super nice dub of Oceanside Spider House, that again features Memotone on clarinet.

Jabu are about to embark on a short tour. They’re also scheduled to support A.R.Kane, and collaborate on a single with the `80s dream pop pioneers:

08 Nov – Królikarnia Palace, Warsaw, PL (w/ O$VMV$M / Birthmark / Hermeneia) 

14 Nov – Venue MOT, London, UK (w/ Dawuna)  

30 Nov – The Cube, Bristol, UK

22 Feb – Dingwalls, London, UK (w/ A.R. Kane / Birthmark)