Teesside’s Andrew Johnson has been prolifically releasing solo and group albums publically for over 17 years. He has been continuously involved in group acts such as Cherry Head, Cherry Heart and Crimson Bloom and has released around 20 albums with groups such as these (as well as under other monikers) alongside 17 solo albums.
With ‘Reset’, he announces his final publically-released album.
Influenced by the likes of The Wedding Present, Hüsker Dü, and The Lemonheads, ‘Reset’ ties together the threads of Johnson’s solo-release career with dextrous ease. The LP swings knowingly from cut to cut, emanating the sort of experienced oversight familiar to lovers of well-crafted rock, punk and Britpop artists.
In a brief chat with Andrew, he explains that the album feels like a ‘fresh start’: “I’d spent a lot of time in the past working on distinctive and often complex arrangements with multiple layers and harmonies.” After stripping these back, he found a refreshing simplicity to his arrangements: “There are two incessant rhythm guitars with a bit of crunch, drums, bass, double-tracked vocal with no harmonies and the occasional simple lead guitar part. I recorded it all very quickly on Logic Pro over a couple of weeks, writing some of the songs along the way.”
The tracks flow in subject matter from the personal “It doesn’t really matter” to the political “Bloody Fools”, each one sparkling with the contrast of abrasive instrumentation against the earned simplicity of the arrangements.
His character pushes through remarkably on these; his baritone voice suggesting allusions to influences from Bowie to Elliott Smith.
The third track, a cover of Elton John’s ‘Tiny Dancer’, pays homage to the push and pull of influence. Johnson stated he initially: “dismissed him (Elton John) as being irrelevant for much of my music-making life.” The cover is recorded with a naiveté that displays Johnson approaching a classic in his own, fresh way.
The reasons and motives of many of his artistic decisions come from a wealth of experience about the industry. ‘Reset’ carries a notable DIY aesthetic, reflecting his belief that: “what makes a good song hasn’t changed for hundreds of years, if ever. Hooks and some kind of emotional (or physical) resonance are still at the core.”
The humility and earnestness with which he carries himself in conversation lends his music another element of sincerity. Musically, he has come full circle with his song-writing, arrangements, structures, and tone; embarking on the perfect point to ‘Reset’.
For further information about the new release, and to hear more of Andrew’s work, please head to soundcloud.com/shoeboxuk.
