Singer songwriter JP Hoe is the latest talent to emerge from Winnipeg’s fertile music scene.
He started to become known back in 2007 during a successful tour with Jann Arden, which sent hundreds flocking to the merch booth to get his EP. He since released two full length CDs and is back with his latest “Mannequin.”
It is a beautiful, laid back listen. Hoe has a superb voice which can carry many a catchy melody.
There are majestic layers of acoustic guitars, mandolins, strings and a variety of things on tracks like “ I Only Did It For Love.”
Mannequin is a very mellow listen, beginning with the gently strummed, blues tinged Dave Matthewsesque “Conversation” which has a some impressive vocals and was co-written with Luke Doucet.
He picks up the tempo a little on “Learn To Let You Go,” which wouldn’t be out of place on a Shins CD.
My absolute favourite is the upbeat, mandolin powered “Lions and Tigers,” which is a perfect slice of pop goodness . The backup vocals add some icing to the cake.
“ The gently picked “ Do I Know You,” slows things down again, with soothing arpeggios and an understated cello and a whistling solo.
“Bittersweet,” sounds just like that— bittersweet, thanks to mournful vocals and more mandolin as well as a bit of cello.
Another highlight is “ Nothing’s going to harm you,” which is an almost mariachi influenced number, featuring upbeat acoustic picking and strumming.
“Dazed and Confused” isn’t anything like the Led Zeppelin song, but is a lot more weirdly folk inspired song, featuring odd keyboard sounds.
He ends the CD with two slower songs, “Veils on the Way,” and “Goodbye or Goodnight.”
CD: Mannequin
Artist: JP Hoe
Genre: folk/ pop
Record Label: indie
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