COCOON

Having now heard Pete Jones talking at length about how he recorded this album I am even more in awe in how this came about. Let's put some context around this to start with. I have looked back over my TMT reviews to check that what I am saying next is correct, but I have never referenced that Pete is blind. The reason I have never said it is because a music review should be about the music, but now understanding that Pete was recording this in a bedroom, playing and singing virtually everything (there is a guest who provides the odd flugelhorn), with a great deal of self-doubt and often thinking this would never actually be released to the public but would just sit on his hard drive for ever, it is time to mention it as the dedication to this project is remarkable and should be recognised.

This album sounds as if a full band, influenced by mid-period Genesis, had gone into a full professional studio with engineers and producers to craft an amazing debut, when actually Pete was trying hard to get the correct sounds he wanted and feeling he was never going to get the spoken introduction to "The Isle of Witches" correct. He is also the genius who came up with the idea of creating a song based on the magical and wonderful childhood world which includes Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley. Somewhat incredibly, I am amazed to discover there were only 13 episodes of each of these stop-go animated programs made, yet they were so very important indeed in my childhood (and every Brit of my generation, and younger given they were repeated for years, will certainly recognise the call "Pugh! Pugh! Barney McGrew! Cuthbert! Dibble! Grubb!" which sadly is not included here). Pete picks out the theme on acoustic guitar and somehow creates something which is both reminiscent of these childhood memories and "The Musical Box".

The album is a delight from beginning to end, and it is strange to think that these days Pete is in high demand as a session musician and bandmember, playing with the likes of Camel, but a long time ago he was just a musician attempting to create something he could be proud of which would never be released. I am so very glad indeed it was as this is an album that fans of Hackett and Genesis will undoubtedly enjoy a great deal.

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