“Another pivotal point on my becoming a musician was my decision to trade my Sinclair Spectrum 48k computer (with games) for an electric guitar and 15 watt guitar amp… It was when I tried to learn the beatles song ‘I’ve Got A Feeling and couldn’t reach round my neck to play one particular chord that I decided to get a left-handed model, and learn the other way.”

“I was sixteen when I wrote my first song… I went to source of the rest of the Beatles back catalogue. From there my interest spun off onto Led Zeppelin, then onto singer/songwriters like Dylan, Neil Young and Tom Waits…”

“During my time there [The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts - LIPA] I became a stronger and more focused song writer… My main influences now are Dylan, Lennon and Rod.”

Jon Allen has supported Damien Rice, Mark Knofler, Emmylou Harris, K.T. Tunstall and Jose Gonzalez in concert.

That’s Jon Allen’s very abbreviated bio and this his debut album. ‘Dead Mans Suit’ opens the album with heavy finger-picking, strong rhythm and melody with a distinct blues/jazz vibe. The song’s narrative style is backed by simple, intelligent lyrics but lurking underneath is a nicely warped sense of humour. Allen’s voice is soulful and a tad gravely, and reminds me of a gentler Rod Stweart. It’s an encouraging and distinctive start. ‘In Your Light’ moves along gracefully in country rock-tinged style, and a hint of the Beatles. It’s a romantic ballad with another strong melody,swaying Hammond and expressive vocal. ‘Going Home’ is the first track we’ve radio playlisted from the album. It’s a thoughtful, moving and quite beautiful song. Lyrically - no complaints: “Many miles we’ve yet to travel/Many lives we’ve yet to know/But there’s a road that we must follow/And there’s still time for us to grow.”

‘Down By The River’ is strongly country-rock with some solid, extended guitar riffs. The song has Rod Stewart written all over it but it’s just a little too conventional; a little too familiar. ‘Sleeping Soul’ is back to standard with a melancholy, contemplative song that drifts along glacially with a stripped back instrumental arrangement. Fragile cello moments add drama and emotion to the song’s thoughtful and sincere ambience. ‘Happy Now’ is another distinctive song where Allen’s pleading vocal soars and is supported by the most superb Hammound and guitar passages. It’s a darker song and a highlight of the album. ‘Take Me To Heart’ is a radio friendly, romantic pop ballad which bristles with influences too numerous to mention. ‘Lay Your Burden Down’ is pleasant and honest but lacks a rhythmic or dramatic edge.

‘Bad Penny’ raises the stakes again with a bluesy rocker with Hammond and Wurlitzer adding a meaty retro feel. The song fairly bounces along with lyrical guitar riffs adding to the foot tapping vibe. ‘Friends’ is notable for it’s finger-picked guitar, meandering harmonica passages and story-telling vocal.

Jon Allen has produced a debut album with a couple of  pretty special moments. The problem for me is there are not enough of them. There are also a couple of very distinctive and original songs but several that remind me a little too much of what’s gone before. Allen will get lots of Radio 2 airplay, and will be carried along by the renewed interest in UK singer/songwriters. A live performance could fix some of my doubts. We’ll see…

3.5/5