Van Hunt :
On The Jungle Floor

Release Date: 19 June 2006

Reviewed By: GE Torto

1. Intro

2. If I Take You Home (Upon...)

3. Hot Stage Lights

4. Daredevil Baby

5. Ride Ride Ride

6. Being A Girl

7. Suspicion (She Knows Me Too Well)

8. Mean Sleep

9. Priest Or Police

10. Character

11. Interlude

12. No Sense Of Crime

13. At The End Of A Slow Dance

14. Thrill Of This Love

15. Hole In My Heart

16. Night Is Young

Ne-Yo - In My Own Words
Read Review

Enter ‘brothers and electric guitars’ into your subconscious search engine and visions of Jimi Hendrix, images of Prince and choruses of Lenny Kravitz no doubt flash up as top hits with certain immediacy. Knocking firmly on the door to be included in that list of successful ‘cross-over-artists’ is the self-assured, six-strings-on-an-axe playing Van Hunt.

His sophomore effort ‘On the Jungle Floor’ is a calculated execution of a number of differing genres closely associated to what can only be described as alternative soul. Yet, the question that inevitably rears its ugly head whenever an artist attempts to infuse a little rock into what is nowadays often tagged ‘urban music’ is – ‘Will folk dig this rock stuff?’

One needn’t fear that the introduction of an amplified Fender will dilute any cunning traces of soul on this record. ‘If I Take You Home (Upon…)’ is a funky upbeat number that will have even the most unforgiving neck muscles bopping in approval. Accompanied by elementary tongue-in-cheek lyrics (“…If I take you home, will you respect me in the morning? yeah, yeah, yeah. If I take you home, will you write my name in a song? yeah, yeah, yeah”), this track combines simplicity with a catchy cruising riff that begs to be played out loud. The funky element is evident too on ‘Hot Stage Lights’, clearly aimed at those who wish to shake a leg or two on any surface that will permit a boogie.

‘Ride, Ride, Ride’ is perhaps the most fuel injected rock anthem on this effort, but a palatable acoustic middle eight, slanted by simple backing vocals make it musically easy to digest for fussy ‘urban’ consumers. You do sense a freedom that Van Hunt enjoyed letting his hair down for this one.

The aforementioned crossing over of differing sub-genres is no better demonstrated than the inclusion of tracks such as ‘Being a Girl’ - soothingly hypnotic and ‘At The End Of A Slow Dance’ – surreally fitting for a riding-off-into-a-sunset-closing scene in an eighties film that you could easily imagine U2 doing. This ‘fingers in many pies’ approach is a terrific advert for musicality as a whole, but runs the risk of confusing and losing an audience midway through any single play.

‘Hole In My Heart’ is an Isley Brother-esque song that is blessed with wonderful delicate chord progressions and is a pleasure to listen to. However, one cannot help but feel that this gem is both misplaced and suffocated by the sheer contrast of sounds that surround it.

‘On The Jungle Floor’ has the diversity and feel of a soundtrack and it is the subsequent lack of cohesion that may make this album a hard pill for some listeners to swallow. The assortment of styles however is a sign of the musical brain that Van Hunt possesses. Such a record highlights an element of adventure that holds no hint of fear in amalgamating the menagerie of styles that no doubt influence him and this is a factor that makes it unique.

The quality of longevity is certainly evident within Van Hunt although it may not be clearly demonstrated to all on this album. This one is a grower with instant treats to suffice for the initial hearings. It is the patient ear though that will licence Van Hunt the time and albums to find his feet before he too becomes seamlessly synonymous with ‘brothers and electric guitars’ for years to come.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Favourite Tracks:
2. If I Take You Home (Upon…)
15. Hole In My Heart
3. Hot Stage Lights

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z