JODY AND THE JERMS – WONDER
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE
Today we venture into the thick of the indie scene in Oxford, the musical city made famous by such artists as RIDE, Hence, it should come as no surprise to see that local indiepop outfit Jody and the Jerms would eventually work with one of the city’s most iconic artists. Involved to the gills, indeed RIDE frontman Mark Gardener produced, mixed and mastered the band’s new Wonder album at his OX4 Sound Studio in Oxfordshire.
Surrounding the high-energy husband-wife team of Jody and Niall Jeger, the band has been writing, recording and performing their signature blend of melodic and uplifting indie/ alt rock since forming in 2019. They have since enjoyed national airtime on Radio X (UK), Sirius XM (USA) and RTVE (Spain), as well as BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, BBC Wales and BBC Ulster. With positivity and buoyancy, their catchy music is light on mood and heavy on melody. On Wonder, Jody and the Jerms has found a winning formula for success with glossy pop, jangling guitar, elegiac harmonies, memorable choruses and wistful melancholy.
Harkening back to a simpler time with a more innocent (or at least pragmatic) vibe, Jody and the Jerms’ music espouses melodies that are straightforward, positive and fun-loving. Artists such as The Go-Go’s, The Primitives, Best Coast and The Darling Buds come to mind as comparable artists, along with The Bangles. Standout tracks include Insatiable, Started Something, Counting Dreams, Last Ones Standing, Intuition and Don’t Look Back.
Their third album to date, following Flicker (2022) and debut album Deeper (2020), the band delivers 12 jangle-pop gems, crafted with a sanguine innocence and vivid relatability. Warmly nostalgic and graced by Jody’s sweet-natured vocal, the band’s output radiates somewhere between The Go-Go’s, Blondie, The Bangles and The Darling Buds.
Championed by the late Janice Long at BBC, was among the band’s greatest supporters, with other BBC support coming through Mark Radcliffe at BBC Radio 2 and BBC Introducing. Loaded with a healthy dose of melodic chrystallised indie pop that is heartfelt and honest, they present endearing jangle-pop songs that are both evocative and relatable.
Jody Jeger explains: “After the release of ‘Flicker’ last year, we quickly developed our live sound, but kept writing and practising and soon found we were working toward our next album. After two years of Pandemic, the band really came to life when we could start rehearsing and playing live. We recorded much of this album at OX4 Sound studio with Mark Gardener over the Autumn of 2022. Some of the other album tracks predate that, when we were working with Mike Bannard at Safehouse Studio in Oxford.”
The Wonder album is out on April 21 and will be available on limited edition CD and pretty pink vinyl, as well as digitally. Kicking things off at the beginning of May, the band will also touring the UK in support of this release with tickets to be had at https://jodyandthejerms.com/live.
Album Credits
All songs written by Jody and the Jerms
except ‘Get Your Feet Of My Shoes’ originally recorded by Boothill Foot Tappers (1984) and written by Chris Thompson
Jody Jeger – vocals
Niall Jeger – guitars & vocals
Peter James Millson – guitars & vocals
Robert Anwood – piano & synth
David Meaden – bass
Alex Bridge – drums & percussion (apart from ‘Don’t Look Back’)
Steve Clark – drums, percussion, Melotron & vocals on ‘Don’t Look Back’
Drew Atkins – bass on ‘Safe’, ‘Just For Show’ & ‘Last Ones Standing’
Andy Boyd – trumpet on ‘Bare’
Produced, mixed and mastered by Mark Gardener at OX4 Sound Studio
except ‘Bare’, ‘Intuition’, ‘Don’t Look Back’, ‘Get Your Feet Out Of My Shoes’ & ‘Insatiable’ mixed by Mike Bannard at Safehouse Studio, Oxford.
Cover artwork and design by Tim Manners
Also enjoy the band’s two latest videos in support of this release:
Tour Dates
Wed., May 3 EDINBURGH – Leith Depot @7pm
Thu., May 4 GLASGOW – Slouch @8pm
Fri., May 5 YORK – FortyFive Vinyl Cafe @7pm
Sat., May 6 MANCHESTER – R-Fest at Retro @6pm
Sun., May 7 LONDON – Off the Cuff, SE240JN (with Jinder) @7pm
Sat., May 20 WOKINGHAM – Hope and Anchor @7pm
Sun., May 28 LIVERPOOL – Cavern Club (for IPO Festival)
Fri., June 2 BRISTOL – The Thunderbolt @8pm
Sat., June 17 OXFORD – GLO-Fest
Thu, June 22 BRACKNELL – The Couch @8pm
Sun, July 2 PORLOCK / MINEHEAD, SOMERSET – Weirfest at Porlock Weir @7pm
Sat., July 15 BRIDPORT – Jurassic Fields
Sat., July 15 ALDERSHOT – West End Centre (for Westival)
Sat., July 22 GUILDFORD – Guildford Beer Festival
Sat., Aug 5 GLOUCESTER – Millwood Cam Festival @7pm
Thu., Aug 31 BLANFORD – Hall & Woodhead @7pm
Sat., Sept. 16 – SWINDON – Swindon Arts Centre
Jody and the Jerms
Wonder
(JATJ Recordings)
Release Date: April 21, 2023
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Howard White
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