Crack

“Wooooney... Wooooney...”

A chant the 27 year-old southwest London producer probably didn’t see coming, or sticking. Nor did Crack for that matter. Yet it still reared out a few times during the hour long set played by Jamie Woon at a small, packed out Start the Bus audience in the heart of Bristol this February.

Woon's entrance to the broader British music spectrum in 2007 with Wayfaring Stranger caused little commotion. Starting out as an acoustic artist, he had been playing various open mic nights across London for the previous five or so years.
However, a remix by Burial, heavily supported by Radio One’s night-time DJ’s, gave Woon access to a greater and more varied audience.

Through collaborations with Debruit, Subeena and Om’Mas during time spent at the Red Bull Music Academy, his was picked up by Polydor, allowing Woon to work on progressing his own sound.

2010 arrived on the doorstep with a mass of ears that were bored and tired of chainsaw whirs, computer bleeps and bass-lines capable of causing blindness. The Joy Orbisons and James Blakes of the electronic world began releasing tracks that people were afraid to slot into any one type of genre, and the big/scary men, usually stood in the rear of nightclubs menacingly nodding along to filthy rhythms, suddenly found themselves listening to something akin to a bastard child of house, garage and lounge.

So it seems Woon's release of Night Air was well timed, and well accepted throughout the ‘post-dub’ culture, gaining prime time play on Radio One and causing Jamie’s biggest stir within the scene. A host of further remixes by the likes of Deadboy and Ramadanman and a spot on the BBC Sound of 2011 shortlist secured Jamie’s name and sound. Cue tour dates all selling out.

Around 150 people peered over the three piece backing band as Jamie arrived casually late on stage. Apologetic and quickly forgiven (how can you stay mad at a haircut like that!?), Woon opened with a track from his forthcoming album - Mirrorwriting. His stage presence certainly suits a smaller audience, and his electro-groove style had shoulders swaying, echoing his own, laid-back, gestures.

The ‘loop’, now utilised by many live acts, was intricately woven and was subtle enough not to overpower. His chosen ensemble played with precision and grace, never demanding any limelight. The tempo barely reached anything over a resting a heartbeat, not to the determent of the set. It was a fitting display for a Sunday evening - 9 to 5er’s who quickly relaxed into the mood.

Woon’s upcoming album is met with anticipation from Crack; his soulful voice and modern beats are original, warming and intoxicatingly understated.

Ladyluck, his second single released from the LP (out this April), doesn’t stray far from his approach laid out in Night Air and with expected radio airtime it’s bound to get a warm reception from the mainstream. Those mainstream hating cynics, however, may have to stretch further afield to quench their thirst for fresh material.



Words: George Scrivener

http://www.myspace.com/jamiewoon

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