As surprising as it may sound, Jay-Jay Johanson and his troubling fragility have been around for over twenty years! The pop neo-crooner quickly discovered the magic formula by mixing trip hop, baroque pop a-la Nilsson, sophisticated new wave reminiscent of Talk Talk, and of course a true fascination for electro lounge and Chet Baker’s jazz… There is a bit of everything in Bury The Hatchet. But because the Swedish musician is now a major player, this eleventh album doesn’t recycle old melodies. Fake nonchalance and, most importantly, melancholy are still central throughout this original soundtrack that sounds like a languid contemporary spleen, a sort of urban blues on its Sunday best. In Rainbow JJJ even sings with Lucy Belle Guthrie (daughter of Liz Frazer and Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins) for an enchanting, almost surreal duo. Class act, once again. © MD/Qobuz