| Format: | LP |
| Availability: | Out of stock |
MEX2911
20/11/2020
In a time rife with alienation, Magic Touch, the third album by Jack Name, offers the comfort of contact. With a body of work that ranges from the catchy to the cacophonous, Name has earned the reputation of a musician who’s difficult to define. His songs have appeared on albums by U.S. Girls (Heavy Light, 2020) and White Fence (Family Perfume, 2012), and he’s produced recordings for Cass McCombs and collaborated with Ariel Pink. Magic Touch reveals yet another side of Jack Name. While it’s every bit as intricate as his previous releases, 2014’s Light Show and 2015’s Weird Moons, here he’s done away with the dense production of his earlier work to make a record that feels stark, personal, and effortlessly natural. The almost subliminal story arc of Magic Touch reminds us that touch itself is magic. Name offers private glimpses of new love as it comes together Lips on Lips, Hips on Hips, in the startlingly confidential opener Karolina; and in its bitter endings, as on the ice-cold I Came To Tell You In Plain English (I’m Leaving You). Introspective gems like Kick-around Johnny and Sacred Place seem to muse about ancient traumas and possibilities of a hopeful future. The vocals, recorded close-up and completely dry, make the brutal honesty in the lyrics even more personal and compelling. Name’s delivery is at all times understated, to the point, and utterly believable — a rare and special thing. It takes a certain kind of bravery to step up to that mic without the cloak of allegory, the medicine bag of studio tricks, or even the formulas of modern “pop music” to protect you. It’s mature—but not dull or heavy-handed.