Reconcile by Jono McCleery

RELEASE DATE: 29.11.2024

Jono McCleery is an English singer-songwriter who creates timeless music that is just as much influenced by the electronic and avant garde as it is by the more traditional folk and soul canon. Since his self-released debut, Darkest Light, came out in 2008, Jono has released a string of albums via Ninja Tune Recordings, and collaborated with fellow artists across the musical spectrum including Maribou State, Portico (Quartet), and Maceo Plex. Over the years his music has received support from Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Phil Selway (of Radiohead), Lauren Laverne and many more, whilst touring internationally with Bonobo and Jamie Woon. As well as having over 50 million streams worldwide on Spotify, his music has been used in a number of television shows including Queen Sugar, Start Up and This Is Us. Jono sees his music as something which is constantly evolving, drawing inspiration from an ever-widening range of influences, and that seeks to connect.

Reconcile is Jono’s eighth LP, and it’s one that represents something of an effort to want to ‘put things right’, as he explains:

“I feel like my last releases went largely unnoticed, despite being proud of them. Things like commitment to being a dad, and the pandemic happening, have also had their impact on my music (and for many others like me). So I have felt a certain motivation to write and record a body of work which wholly represents me at this time. It also represents a chance to restart, and I'm really excited for this to be my first release with Sonar Kollektiv. The artwork was made by my 4-year old daughter (who is now 8) and is an image I had kept and suddenly realised fits the theme: It's imperfect, has sharp edges, and impressions of light: and for me resembles a flower which has broken several times, and weathered many storms but still shines on, like a bright star in the night. To my surprise the label loved it, so I inverted the original colours to suit the mood of the record. Recording this album mostly alone has allowed me to put more ‘me’ into it, and amazingly at a time where I wanted to do something a bit different, I have found the support of a label who have just let me be. I felt my way through this one from start to finish, and nothing got in the way. Finally, Reconcile is the title I went with, it resonates with me for many reasons, but ultimately I wanted to put something small back into the world for my brother’s loss, and I am beyond excited to share it.”

It’s also an album that heralded a change in direction in terms of production technique for the singer, song-writer, musician and producer, who recorded the record alone, but shared production duties with Matt Kelly, Greg Haynes AKA Fybe One and Dutch producer Jesse Koolhaas. Jono explains more:

“Having made the last two albums in a studio live with my band, I decided to record this one alone from my cabin which is surrounded by woodlands, ten mins from my apartment. It's not soundproof, so you sometimes hear birds in the background, but it's where I feel at ease and am able to lock myself away and immerse myself. Working remotely gave me the time I needed to delve deeper into the vocal arrangements of the songs: something I had always wanted to do more of. I was even worried that I would be stepping on Matt's toes with some of my vocal arrangements, but I think we ended up with some really interesting moments where string and vocal arrangements weave around each other, particularly on The One and Let's Get Back To It. I also lent my hand to playing double bass and various percussion bits, and I think we all enjoyed the challenge of coming up with parts to help blend subtle electronica with acoustic instruments.”

That combination of acoustic instruments and subtle electronic wizardry is something that is present throughout the album.

“I didn't want the album to be strictly acoustic, I've enjoyed writing and singing for a lot of dance music collaborations over the years, and it was even through a collaboration with Dutch producer Feiertag that I became aware of Sonar Kollektiv. So it felt natural to want to lean towards a bigger sound with some of the tracks. I wanted it to feel intimate for someone listening alone - but for it also to make sense in a bigger, more social context. Ultimately I just want it to reach as many people as possible, but in a meaningful way. I've received so many messages over the years, which have shown me how music can help people through moments and transitions in life, and this has helped me to stay focused on the importance of music, and the point of sharing it.”

The album opens with the stunning, spiritual sounds of The One, with Jono’s vocals reaching rarely heard heights and soaring strings immediately transporting the listener somewhere otherworldly. This is followed up with the first single to be lifted from the LP, To See You Again. It’s a song that was written at a tumultuous period in Jono’s life, just days before the death of his pianist brother, Stephen.

“I spontaneously sang it with my daughter before putting her to bed and it felt like a prayer for him to let go. I recorded it on my phone as a demo and liked it so much I decided to keep it.”

The second single, So Messed Up, draws on global themes of having lost touch with ourselves and with nature, and how having to survive in the modern world often gets in the way. Despite such heavy subject matter, there was plenty of joy to be found in the recording process, and in the song’s optimistic feel drawing on its soul, jazz and latin roots.

Like I Do is an intimately recorded piece that allows Jono’s vocals to take centre stage, surrounded by swirling strings and simple guitar chords. It’s a heartfelt confession of love, pure and simple. Similarly, Only You, is in essence, a tale of adoration, but one which is accompanied by glittering electronics, sparkling guitar and string section, and persistent percussion, lifting it above and beyond the world of the traditional love song or ballad.

In contrast, the title track of the album is urgent in its delivery and tone, albeit with a jazz flavoured blues feel reminiscent of New Folk Sound era Terry Callier. It features a persistent groove held down with thumped bass notes from the guitar, accompanied by the cajon. As the song develops its theme of being “stuck on your own star, waiting to see.. where you belong”, its dark chord progression in the chorus gets finally resolved when double bass and drums suddenly appear at the end, completing a story that is central to the album, that of finding where you belong in this world.

I Try To Remember opens with choir-like vocal chants from Jono, before keys and guitar dance around each other, making way for Jono’s gradually building vocals as he works his way through this very touching piece about his late brother Stephen, whose piano playing appears on this track.

“It was the last time we were together, he was losing feeling in his hands, but he still really wanted us to jam something, so I played him this new idea for a chord sequence and set my phone to the side on record, and he played it beautifully. I later recorded vocals for it. It means so much to me to have this moment crystalised on the album. The whole album is a dedication to him. He always rooted for me, and even in his absence I feel his support.”

Album closer Let’s Get Back To It sees the strings return in abundance, just as they opened the album. Jono’s vocals strike an optimistic note, and combine beautifully with Fybe One’s beats to provide the perfectly pitched closer to this very personal and mesmerising LP.

Reconcile is a story of journeys and navigating through periods of love and loss, and signals a yearning for us to reconnect to ourselves and nature.

“Timing is everything in music, as it is in life, and I truly feel it's time for us to share this record, and remind people what music should be about.”

Jono McCleery is an English singer-songwriter who creates timeless music that is just as much influenced by the electronic and avant garde as it is by the more traditional folk and soul canon.