Jacob Banks today completes a visionary project as he unveils ‘Book III’ – the finale of his ambitious ‘Yonder’ anthology series. ‘Yonder: Book III’ opens with its focus track ‘Blame It On God’. Listen HERE.
Each book of ‘Yonder’ has presented a radically different side to Jacob’s far-reaching creativity. First, ‘Book I’ propelled Motown and ‘70s Afrobeat influences into the modern day, while ‘Book II’ applied alternative sonic touchpoints to Jacob’score soul sound. ‘Book III’ again charts fresh territory, this time focusing on rootsy acoustic singer-songwriting and inspirational gospel.
Jacob wrote all five songs on ‘Book III’. He says, “‘Book III’ is the final chapter and it’s for those of us who feel everything all too much.”
The first song ‘Blame It On God’ uses a deceptively simple melody and folk guitar as the backdrop for Jacob’s bluesy voice to decree the hypocrisy of people who use their religion as an excuse for behaviour that’s anything but moral. Coming from a man who has demonstrated a consistent eloquence when discussing the nuances of faith, his forthright lyricism holds nothing back from its targets.
He adds, “It must be fun to play God and blame God at the same time.”
The other pages within ‘Book III’ also highlight a more stripped-back version of Jacob’s art. ‘Heavy Love’ feels as intimate as a glimpse into a solo rehearsal, his lead vocal supported only by acoustic guitar and some warm backing harmonies. ‘All My Love’ is richer in texture, as Jacob pushes the passion of his voice to its full extent supported by celestial background vocals and the warmth of a live band, while the concise ‘Sugarcoat’ spins together neo-soul funk and timeless ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll balladry. The best is saved for last with ‘Gone Are The Days’, the kind of majestic slow burner that would feel perfectly in time in any era from the early ‘60s through to the present day.
Collectively the three ‘Yonder’ books have seen Jacob release an album’s worth of material over the course of just a couple of months. But more importantly, they highlight his versatility. The anthology proves that Jacob can break new ground or find fresh inspiration from music’s past. It also demonstrates that his lyrics can be direct in their messages or sophisticated in their metaphors. Regardless of his approach, Jacob shows the vocal masterclass and the command of emotion that has made him one of the UK’s heralded artists.
It’s now only days until Jacob Banks commences his ‘Yonder’ European headline tour in Brussels. The curtain comes down on the 20-date tour when he headlines London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town. Remaining tickets for the dates listed below are available HERE.
MARCH
18th – Brussels, La Madeleine
19th – Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg
20th – Rotterdam, Maassilo
23rd – Cologne, Bürgerhaus Stollwerck
24th – Warsaw, Palladium
26th – Vilnius, Compensa Concert Hall
28th – Riga, Palladium
29th – Tallinn, Alexela Concert Hall
30th – Helsinki,Tavastia
APRIL
2nd – Stockholm, Cirkus
3rd – Oslo, Rockefeller
6th – Copenhagen, Vega – Main Hall
8th – Berlin, Metropol
10th – Zürich, Kaufleuten
11th – Bern, Bierhübeli
12th – Cully, Jazz Festival
15th – Paris, La Cigale
17th – Dublin, The Academy
20th – Schijndel, Paaspop Festival
23rd – London, O2 Forum Kentish Town
