After the incredible Good Days in 2019, the ever-consistent Jonathan Jeremiah is back again with Horsepower for the Streets. Still taking inspiration from Gainsbourg’s sophisticated orchestrations, this new release once again features the subtle mix of gospel, soul and orchestral pop that’s become his signature sound. The London native found inspiration during his first French tour in Saint-Pierre-de-Côle, a small village in Dordogne when he laid his eyes upon the dream-like paintings of Neo Rauch, a German artist. A concept album divided into 11 tracks, this fifth album (and the second under the [PIAS] label) was recorded in Bethlehemkerk (a renovated church in The Hague) alongside the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, an orchestra of 22 string players. This ensemble wields a formidable power, and they spare no effort for this carefully produced record. This release is adorned with gospel choirs, giving it an almost ecclesiastical edge (‘Small Mercies’), and it isn’t afraid to send the piano on a solitary hike (‘Early Warning Sign’) or take sweet, soulful detours with a glockenspiel and prominent bass (‘Ten-storey Falling’). Horsepower For The Streets undeniably deserves its place in the baritone’s elegant discography. © Charlotte Saintoin/Qobuz