| Interviews | |
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| Sick Among The Pure |
| Interviews | |
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| Sick Among The Pure |
The Sentimentalist - Fall/Winter 2003: "Johnny Forlorn comes to us in this new story teller incantation. It is always refreshing for a musician to come out of
their shell and test out waters of a different temperature. Some of you may know John Clough more for his past work as the front man for Shadow Light or keyboardist
for Faith & Disease. Johnny takes us along his own personal journey of death, love loss, and enchantment. This CD is rich in sorrow, as evident with song titles
such as, "Only My Name Remains", "Going Home", and "The Devil's Lying Inside".
Musically, Johnny Forlorn conjures up a bit of Nick Cave crossed with some long-forgotten sea shanty veteran. This is a new direction for Johnny
and as with any new journey, somethines your soul may get lost along the way. Come get lost with Johnny. --CD"
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Outburn - Issue 24: "This is the first solo release from John Clough (keyboardist for Faith & Disease and lead vocalist for Shadow Light), and a damn impressive debut it is too.
His vocals and somber piano work take the lead, but he has also assembled an impressive band that does a great job filling out the eclectic sound that blends folk music with some wonderfully melancholic rock elements.
Comparisons are difficult, but flashes of Tom Waits and Nick Cave, albeit with completely different vocals more in the vein of Gary Numan or Voltaire, come to mind. The real beauty of The First Loss is the piano
melodies. The songs could be stripped of everything except the piano and it would still be a joy to listen to. The best cuts tend to be the grander, more intrinsically catchy numbers, "Only My Name Remains",
"Going Home, and the jazzy send up "Hey Mr. DJ". But Johnny Forlorn can deliver quieter moments with skill as well, as eveidenced by "Linger", and the pretty "In A Moment". The First Loss
isn't a terribly complex or overproduced record and is all the better for it. These are simple, heart felt songs that let the beautiful melodies shine through and transport the listener." ~ Daniel Hinds
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Gothtronic (online Dutch Zine) - Full Online Review :
"The First Loss is his first solo album, and this record centers round the pianoplay of Johnny himself. On this cd he crawls in the skin of a story teller and we can find melancholic folk-rock compositions which
add a little Nick Cave with the atmosphere of long gone sailor or pirate songs. The quality of what’s being offered on this cd is high. Very high. No real surprise if one looks a bit further and notices there
are 14 musicians active on this cd. The lyrics are comparable to those of a experienced storyteller. The shape that has been chosen for these stories sounds simple, clear and effective, if one likes it. The best
tracks in my opinion are ‘Only My Name Remains’, ‘Going Home’, ‘The Devil’s Lying Inside’ and ‘In a Moment’. Whoever likes music of The Walkabouts, Nick Cave or Leonard Cohen should give this cd a chance. It’s
very good." ~ Teknoir
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MRock (online Polish Zine) - May 2004: "Johnny Forlorn, known (known?) from bands like Shadow Light or Faith & Disease has just released his debut album under the sign of Tragick Records, a label which is not well-known in Poland and which
specializes in dark, almost underground rock. And such is Johnny’s record, though I guess it would be too much to call it “rock” for it’s the piano that rules this album, accompanied only by few instruments
(generally acoustic or classic, like violin; and there’s even a little female choir in great In A Moment). And over these gloomy sounds flies a, well, strange Johnny’s voice which sounds like a mixture of retired punk
singer with Cave and with good old new romantic. The piano and the “bar” sound of course make you think of the masters of such music like Nick Cave or Tom Waits. Well, you’re right, however it should be stated clear
that this album is not a copy, although there are some very similar things… All in all, there’s really, really a lot of sadness here. And it’s black. Well, I listened to it today. It was warm and sunny, but I suddenly
felt depressed – I don’t know if that was the intention… But it doesn’t mean it’s a bad record. It isn’t, it’s very attracting and somehow it satisfies my taste.
It’s a pity it probably won’t be available in Poland.
Thumbs up for: Only My Name Remains, Hey Mr. DJ, In A Moment" ~ YM
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Gothic Beauty - Issue #13: "Johnny Forlorn takes a seat at his piano, modestly careful of his suit. Some may recognize him as John Clough, the pianist whose
sensitive playing enhanced the bittersweet, sepia-toned mood of Faith & Disease. With "The First Loss," Johnny Forlorn is in the spotlight, paired with his piano and
joined by a cast of backing musicians including a trombonist, a violinist and a seven-woman choir. He builds upon our first impression with heartfelt, understated
phrases on the piano and a strong, straightforward singing voice with a hint of pathos in it. His elegant playing, along with the accompanying musicians and especially
the choir, sustains a vintage atmosphere, as though performed in a club where candlelight reflects mellowly from mahogany furniture and dark walls. These are fatalistic
songs about the ironies and sorrows of life: loneliness, loss of love, self-doubt, and mortality, all expressed in sentimental but polished poetry. Comparisons can be
made with Nick Cave or M. Gira (Angels of Light), but Johnny Forlorn is a more romantic character than either, pouring out his sorrows with just the right amount of irony,
wit and dramatic flair." ~ Carolee Harrison
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Green-Dragons Inn (online German Zine) June 23rd 2004 - Full Online Review :
"Aus Amerika erreichte mich diese sehr stimmige CD,
die ganz im Stile der alten Balladensänger gemacht ist (siehe frühere Werke von Nick Cave),
gepaart mit ein wenig "What shell we do with the drunken sailor" Flair. Sehr wehmütig kommt
die Stimme daher und die Tracks sind schön tragisch inszeniert. Hat auf jeden Fall das
gewisse Etwas und ist genau der richtige Soundtrack, wenn man mal mit etwas zu viel
Alkohol in den sogenannten "Moralischen" abdriftet. Während der ersten beiden Songs
wird sehr seemännisch gekonnt gegrölt Only my name remains und es wird darüber jammert,
dass eigentlich am Ende nur noch der Name übrig bleibt, wo doch alles was man im Leben
getan hat, mit ins Grab geschaufelt wird, bei Evelyn wird nach dem hübschen Mädchen gesucht,
wo sie wohl hingegangen sei in ihrer Einsamkeit. Ab Titel 3 Still like strangers wird
es dann sehr balladesk am Piano, die Wehmut zieht sich jedoch durch das gesamte Liedgut der CD.
Witzig finde ich den boogielastigen Titel Hey Mr. DJ. Doch doch, das Debutalbum von Johnny
Forlorn ist ein äusserst schön konzipiertes und griffiges Machwerk, das aber nichts für den
nebenbei Genuss ist, kein Tanzalbum, oder die Untermalung für ein Candlelight Dinner. Am besten
man setzt sich alleine und in Ruhe mit dieser CD auseinander, vielleicht ein Glas Rotwein,
alte Fotos aus besseren Zeiten.... jedoch Vorsicht: allzu schlecht sollte man nicht drauf sein.
Wer ist eigentlich Johnny Forlorne? Ein Teil der Formation war ehemals bei Faith & Desease,
Frontmann John Clough kann auf einen breiten musikalischen Erfahrungsschatz zurück blicken,
und genau das merkt man auch auf dem Erstlingswerk. Es stolpert nicht daher, bemüht und
unbeholfen, sondern ist gekonnt arrangiert von Musikern die nicht zum ersten Mal Instrumente
in den Händen halten. Hörer von Balladen, die düster und melancholisch angelegt sind,
werden ihre Freude an diesem Album haben." ~ Blutbild
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Ver Sacrum (online Italian zine) July 2004 - Full Online Review :
"Darker Folk-Rock at its finest.
Così proclama la Tragick Records, andando a pubblicizzare la presente operina, frutto
dell'indubitabili capacità compositive di John Clough, mente ed anima del progetto Johnny
Forlorn (il suo curriculum annota collaborazioni con Faith & Disease e Shadow Light).
Definizione corretta, essendo "The first loss" davvero un bel disco, ricco di atmosfere
chiaroscurali impreziosenti una diecina di umbratili ballate dettate dal piano e dalla
profonda voce del nostro ombroso cantore, non per nulla originario della piovosa Seattle.
"Only my name remains" apre il disco, andando subito a definire le anzidette coordinate,
richiamando alla memoria il grande Nick Cave, che certo deve aver decisamente influenzato
il buon John, oltre a Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash e The Walkabouts, come indicato sulla citata
info-sheet. Al centro di un salone barocco ammantato dalla penombra a malapena striata
dall'incerto lucore di morenti ceri, egli canta la sua disperazione, con tale trasporto da
rendere immediatamente partecipe l'ascoltatore. "Still like strangers", "Going home",
"The devil's lying inside", "Linger", "In a moment" e "Here comes my love" sono solo
alcuni titoli di un lavoro giuocoforza compatto, per sua stessa natura. La parca
strumentazione della quale si avvalgono Mr. Clough ed i suoi collaboratori (fra gli
altri pure Eric Cooley) non permette certo infinite variazioni al tema fondante, ma poco
importa, i brani sono davvero belli ed eseguiti con grande enfasi. Consigliatissimo ai
fanatici del nume Nick, i quali troveranno in "The first loss" di che sfamare i loro
appetiti!" ~ Hadrianus
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Luna Cafe - July 2004 - Full Online Review :
"John Clough, a member of Faith & Disease, has recorded a strong debut as the aptly named
Johnny Forlorn. Its dark stylings leads my thoughts to Nick Cave and other poets of loss
and sadness. "Evelyn" is a piano-led dirge about an unfortunate girl. The songs easy to
sing along to and has a rousing chorus which makes it stronger still. "Still Like Strangers"
would be worthy of inclusion on Cave's masterful "The Boatman's Call". Its insightful lyric
and sweeping strings are great. "Going Home" is a folk song of war that sticks in the mind.
Clough has a way with language that makes it sound like a biblical rather than contemporary
war. "Hey Mr Dj" is a frantically swinging slice of New Orleans jazz despite the title. I
like Clough's demented turn at the piano here. "The Devil's Lying Inside" is an epic of a
man and his demons. Like so many of these songs it's too brilliant to be at all downcast
despite the weighty theme. Clough's wry sense of humor helps too.
The First Loss is a darkly compelling and utterly great record."
Copyright © 2004 Anna Maria Stjärnell
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Cold (online Polish zine) August 2004 - Full Online Review :
"Mijaja kolejne muzyczne mody, pomysly i brzmienia nowe dzis czesto juz jutro zaczynaja
zalatywac myszka, a dokonania oparte na poszukiwaniu nowych form i wymyslnych struktur
zwykle nawet samym eksperymentatorom wydaja sie nie warte sluchania. Tymczasem dobre
piosenki nie starzeja sie nigdy. Dlatego tez jestem pewny, ze Johnny Forlorn nagral plyte
ponadczasowa. Johnny Forlorn aka John Clough od poczatku lat 90. udziela sie na gotyckiej
scenie Seattle. Najpierw byl zespól Prayers for The Raven, a po jego rozpadzie Shadow
Light, któremu Clough lideruje do dzis, i wieloletnia rola klawiszowca w grupie Faith &
Disease. Forlornowi zamarzyl sie jednak jeszcze jeden projekt, bardziej oparty na tradycji,
w wiekszej mierze nawiazujacy do folku. Clough z przyjaciólmi nagral wiec dziesiec
zachwycajacych kompozycji, podczas których sluchania ciarki chodza po plecach. Ta muzyka
to w prostej linii kontynuacja dokonan Leonarda Cohena, póznego Nicka Cave'a, Johnny'ego
Casha. Ktos napisal, ze utwory Forlorna to takie mroczne szanty - niech i tak bedzie.
Jesli to szanty, to szanty wykonane z pasja charakterystyczna dla muzyki gospel. A gospel
to muzyka duszy, taka jest tez twórczosc Forlorna: smutna i prawdziwa do bólu,
przeszywajaca i dajaca ukojenie. Nie popelnie wielkiego naduzycia, jesli juz teraz, po
wydaniu debiutanckiego albumu, postawie Forlorna w jednym rzedzie z najwiekszymi mrocznymi
balladzistami ostatnich lat, wymienionymi wyzej Cave'em, Cashem i Cohenem. Clough naprawde
na to zasluguje. " ~ maniak
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Past and Present Webzine (Denmark) August 2004 - Full Online Review :
Here’s the first solo-release from John Cough who by some of you is known as the
keyboard-player in Faith & Disease and vocalist in Shadow Light. On “The First Loss”
he handles both as well as having written all the songs on there. His songs take on
a dark folk-rock approach in places and a goth-like alt-country one in others. “Evelyn”
is my favorite track on this ten-song disc. It sounds like a bunch of people gathering
around the piano and the guitar in the living-room singing from some “old favorites
songbook”, only here there’s a whole band backing it up, which makes the sound fuller
and more appealing. Fans of the likes of Johnny Cash, Nick Cave and Tom Waits are gonna
like this. ~ Hans Jakup Eidisgard
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Goth Up North (U.K.) - August 2004 - Full Online Review :
Highly recommended if you've got the likes of Johnny Cash and Nick Cave in your CD collection.
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Orpheus (France) - Number 5 - :
John, déjà chanteur pour les Shadow Light et clavier pour les Faith & Disease se concrétise
maintenant aussi avec un projet solo. Ce que j’entends a quelque chose de folklorique…
quelque chose d’il était une fois l’Amérique avec l’incorruptible John dans le rôle du
lonesome singer de « my way » qui portait un chapeau, un costume et une cravate d’enterrement
(pour le sien peut-être). La musique dark folk est alors circonstancielle. Qu’il ait du cran
dans la voix (un peu Gary Numan) ou qu’elle se laisse sourdre dans le sombre et les déboires,
Johnny a de la chance à plaire à ceux qui aiment les albums de Nick Cave ou des Walkabouts. ~ Pascal
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Side-Line - Dec 21, 04 Full Online Review :
John Clough aka Johnny Forlorn is known for his involvement into Shadow Light and especially Faith & Disease. He now released an impressive debut-album. Several other musicians contributed to his opus and among them a 7-woman choir. Musically speaking, it would be easy to call it gothic, but J. Forlorn goes much further than the simple gothic anthem. The more you visit the world of Forlorn, the more you’ll be caught by the sensitive ballads and emotional dark parts, which often reminds to Nick Cave. The “Hey Mr. DJ”-cut is for sure one of the most typical songs in the Cave-style. Among the other pieces I would for sure like to mention “Evelyn” for the impressive chorus where the female choir realizes a damned efficient performance. “Saying goodbye” is a cool balled that has been sung with passion and devotion. Well, it all sounds that easy, but behind this feeling hides for sure a hard labor. If you definitely prefer some more rock sound, “The devil’s lying inside” will probably satisfy all your needs. I’ve been wondered about myself, but I enjoyed this refreshing and sensitive “The first loss”. (DP:6/7)DP ~ Cedric.
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