Having shaken the foundations of both his repertoire and the modern alternative music realm alike, with the launch of his politically outspoken single Paradigm $H!T, the unmistakable creative force that is Jakob The Liar goes on to release his anticipated EP Wake up Mr. Kupferberg, and the six-track project is as unpredictable and artistically free as hoped.
Beginning with the Enterlude of its title, Wake up Mr. Kupferberg features a haunting piano and warped synth ambiance, with Jakob’s spoken vocals adding quiet drama; setting the scene with both poetry and literal images for storytelling, and concluding with an ominous airport soundbite. The opening moments unsettle and intrigue, but are followed quite beautifully, by the acoustic and vulnerable folk song Sunchild.
Completely unconfined by expectation or genre, Jakob The Liar’s vocal tone and complex lyrical journeys are the anchor point, throughout an EP that’s expressively dynamic and detailed in an unprecedented manner. Sunchild is a gorgeous original track, with a bright and uplifting chorus, and completely redirects your mindset after the leading single and title-track from this release.
Huge thoughts and feelings are encapsulated throughout this self-addressed EP – reflections on the self and life, the world at large, the direction we all appear to be heading in. Sunchild comforts and inspires, while Vi@gr@ Falls & P!$$ Graffiti reminds us of the post-punk attitude and angst of Jakob The Liar’s alternative side. We get anger at the state of things, and contemplation from within, all juxtaposed through the highs and lows of this often guitar-led but genre-free project.
Softness returns for the beautifully immersive and emotionally vulnerable H E A R T B E A T, rising up towards a huge pop-rock crescendo that’s catchy but stylistically distinct – creative production another huge part of Jakob The Liar’s approach.
Then the iconic and haunting riff and lyrical ferocity of Paradigm $H!T raises the pulse once more, before the rather divine and impassioned anthem A Song Like You wraps things up with evocative realness and harmonised wonder.
In a music realm that’s constantly bombarded with regimented, formulaic AI pop, discovering an artist with a clear sense of character and integrity at the helm is something that ought to be celebrated. Jakob The Liar underlines precisely that kind of quality as a modern songwriter and performer. His instruction to himself, to wake up, resounds and connects in unexpected ways for this EP, and the music is both distinct and satisfying, as it rather fearlessly pours through the airwaves.
Find Jakob The Liar on Facebook, Instagram, and his Website.
