Written off by many as a hanger-on to the dress hems of the likes of Lily Allen and Kate Nash, Jack Penate returns with a complete reinvention of his sound – and it’s an Afro-beat revelation. Singles ‘Tonight’s Today’ and ‘Be The One’ are catchy songs, and examples of the kind of airy positive vibes Penate now makes with his music. ‘Everything’s New’ builds on the promise in those two, with ‘So Near’ a gloriously euphoric piece of writing, and even ‘Let’s All Die’ sounding a plus note rather than a negative one. Only in ‘Every Glance’ does he go a little downbeat, and then the results are surprisingly moving. So Penate’s right – everything is indeed new, and the bouncing beats and upward looking vocals on this record deserve to soundtrack this and many a summer.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
