Self-released
Release year: 2015
Production: Matej Wolf
Album length: 34.52 min
Genre: Alternative Rock
John F. Doe are an alternative rock band from Bled, formed in 2010. They started out as John Doe, then recently slipped an “F” and a period into the name. I don’t know the reasoning behind the move, but my guess is the guys went for it because a band from Varaždin, Croatia, goes by the same name.
“JFD” delivers a great debut from a band that clearly sweated over countless arrangement flourishes and sonic details. It shows how driven and committed they are to squeeze out the very best they can do right now. What hits you first on the album is the excellent mix of a dark alternative rock atmosphere, radiating melancholy, disappointment and even black, erotic pangs of desire, with a real musicality that the band channels into how it builds its songs. John F. Doe are a credible, straight-up answer to the idea of indie rock, brewed on the sunny side of the Alps but with British influences The album “JFD” has a touch of authenticity and originality in its songwriting, and that’s the key for the band’s next steps and any potential breakthrough onto the charts. What opens that door is how easy these songs are to listen to, full of melodic twists and tied together by that dark atmospheric haze I mentioned, plus a warm, organically alive production where guitar and keys weave a seriously exemplary backdrop. It’s exactly this interplay that packs the songs with a pile of little details and embellishments that start to surface once you spin the album a few times in your CD player.
The bass is nicely upfront and one of the most important ingredients in the band’s contrasting sound. It has that typical feel of the darkwave and post-punk days of the eighties . The guys have a real knack for the basic songwriting rule of “less is more.” The songs are instantly likable on first listen, get under your skin right away, and the simple rhythms they stand on and “effortlessly” sway to get your body itching to dance. With short but punchy strokes, the album lands a convincing emotional punch and plenty of lasting appeal. That was the main goal of John F. Doe when making the album.
Marko Zemljič brings a mid-range voice, sometimes contrasted by distortion effects or made to sound like it’s coming from a distant telephone receiver, and it’s one of the first charms of listening to this album. The verses come alive and grab you with their passion and lived-in feeling. The instrumental side gives the vocals a really solid backbone. The chemistry of the quintet works and shows they vibrate on the same wavelength, which makes for exceptional communication and awareness between the band members. That came about through the band’s natural evolution, which matters a lot when it comes to embodying originality. Given how polished it is, the album gives the band great potential, a springboard to knock on the door of the international music scene too. The mix of catchy musicality, easygoing rhythms and a dark atmosphere with organic sonic warmth works on “JFD” in just the right doses. In the right balance. It’s an exceptionally beautiful and, for a debut, remarkably mature piece of songwriting: full-blooded indie rock that promises great things for the future.
author: Aleš Podbrežnik
rating: 9.0 / 10
Tracklist:
1. Purple Velvet (03:22)
2. From Russia To China (02:58)
3. Drive Song (03:48)
4. Rider (03:27)
5. High Hopes (04:03)
6. My Addiction (04:39)
7. Black Glitter (02:39)
8. December Lights (02:46)
9. Fantasy Road (Bye Bye Baby) (03:22)
10. Crminal Mind (03:15)
Lineup:
Marko Zemljič – vocals
Aleš Svetina – guitar, backing vocals
Luka Zemljič – keyboards, backing vocals
Tilen Knaflič – bass guitar
Bojan Marinko – drums, percussion
