Jupiter in Velvet – Beautiful New Day 

Jupiter in Velvet – Beautiful New Day 

URL: https://jupiterinvelvet.com/home

As a music journalist I must say that I’ve been more than disappointed in indie rock for the last couple of years. I feel like there’s been a gradual migration away from the DIY ethic that has yielded a tremendous amount of apathy in a scene that was built by musicians who obsess over every element of their work. Jupiter in Velvet is one of the last legitimate voices of independent music left, and his new record Beautiful New Day is a shining beacon of hope for those of us who still believe in songcraft above sales figures.

I love the way this albums builds us up and never lets us down. From “Heavy Like a Brick” all the way through to “Fight 4 Your Life,” Jupiter in Velvet never tries to play down to us or present his message from anywhere other than his own space. We’re not bombarded with space age textures generated from some artificial technology, either; this is just straight up organic rock music from an artist content to be himself. There’s speed and versatility but we’re not rushed from one song to the next. Everything plays out at a consistent pace and we’re allowed to get to know Jupiter in Velvet’s identity through his content and not his packaging.

From the opening blast of amplified heat that commences Beautiful New Day forward, it becomes clear to anyone within earshot that Jupiter in Heat isn’t slowing down as he ages. If anything, he’s just getting pumped up and into full, muscular form in this new album. I was skeptical that anyone was willing to be generous with the volume knob anymore, but not only isn’t Jupiter stingy with the levels, he doesn’t go overboard with the tones or lose sight of the skin and bones of his music; simply, melodic song structures.

Be nature, young artists are inclined to be a little overly ambitious when they’re first starting out, but anyone getting into music currently could stand to learn an awful lot from Jupiter in Velvet’s patient attitude and tempered style of recording and performing his music. There’s a myriad of hooks to behold in Beautiful New Day, but none of these tracks are designed exclusively around a specific transition or chorus. There’s a poppy feel to the brighter moments like “Take Control” and “Monsters,” but don’t get it twisted; Jupiter in Velvet didn’t make this record to garner the attention of FM radio.

I really believe that you would be hard pressed to find a more complete album this year, of any genre, than you will in Beautiful New Day, and it isn’t just because of the utter lack of filler or its absolutely mesmerizing production. Jupiter in Velvet has created an album that stands on its own and isn’t instantly comparable to someone else’s work, and that’s the stuff that legends are made of. Only time will tell for certain, but in my opinion Beautiful New Day will probably one day be considered a classic for its time.

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/JupiterInVelvet

Mindy McCall