Jape The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me by: Riki Gardner Tue:19-Feb-08 Label: Marine Parade Year: 2007 WB rating 78 out of 100

Having just left a major record label for a much smaller one, one could be forgiven for expecting Jape’s latest offering, The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me, to be self indulgent, unlistenable and all of the other stereotypical elements of an artist’s first indie release. However, this album is the precise opposite and presents itself as a remarkably stripped down affair – just Jape’s soulful lyrics and minimal instrumentation, an easy listening experience which is immensely gratifying from the first track.

There is a real sense of serenity and calm which permeates this record, the sound of someone who is finally comfortable in their own skin, willing to share there life experiences and willing to let the world know that they are truly comfortable. An excellent example of this new level of comfort can be heard within the album’s opening track ‘Floating’. A playful foray into the seemly oxymoronic genre of electronic acoustica, ‘Floating’ feels like it would be right at home on Beck’s seminal 1996 album Odelay.

The overwhelming sense of calm continues with tracks such as ‘How Much Light’ and ‘To the Sea’. ‘How Much Light’ stands as a cautionary tale, with Jape pleading with listeners to not waste their lives through their own laziness. The infectious reggae beat adds further punch to the message of the song. ‘To the Sea’ presents itself as a very simple track which then develops into an epic guitar piece, with Jape urging listeners to go wherever they like and to be free.

The spectrum of emotional content of this album is wide, with Jape acting as advisor to the music listening public, presenting them with advice and perceptions from his own experiences. This is always carefully done and presented in a manner which is completely non-threatening and lacks the preacher status that so often ruins attempts at delivering a message. Songs such as ‘The Hardest Thing to Do’ are both easily digestible and filled with emotional content.

This album, however, is certainly not without its flaws. Noticeably, some of the tracks, such as the six minute ‘Always Knew’ feel a tad drawn out and not quite properly formed. The album also starts to sound a little repetitive in the middle, with Jape’s blend of folk and quirkiness melding into one seemingly long track after another, it becomes difficult to tell where one track has finished and another has begun. These criticisms, however, are only minor in comparison to the album as a whole, which is a remarkably solid piece of work.

This album is very much a laid back, relaxed look at life after the mainstream. Jape is expressing many emotions in this release and conveys them to his listeners quite convincingly. Whilst the monkeys in the zoo may be having more fun than him, Jape sure isn’t showing it.