Short Reviews [Jack Ellister - 2019 - “When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease / Supernaut”]

London based artist Jack Ellister has been doing the rounds as a solo artist since 2012, and is one of the darling of vinyl specialist label Fruits de Mer, a label that has grown from obscurity into a must know label for vinyl collectors in the span of a decade or so. The single " 'When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease' /'Supernaut' " is Ellister's latest release on this by now renowned label. What we get on this 7 inch are two songs that are radically different on just about all levels. The A-side 'When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease' is a classic era melancholic piano ballad in this take, with lo-fi vocals with a sleepy, almost detached mode of delivery rising into a clear, more distinct and subtly more powerful mode on set occasions. Backed by a melancholic piano, subtly alternating in pace and intensity on set occasions as well. A wonderful creation for those who enjoy a more careful, subtle and vintage era take on the piano ballad, and while I'm not familiar with Roy Harper's original I rather suspect this cover version is different. The second track here is Ellister's take on Black Sabbath's 'Supernaut', here transformed into a 70's style energetic psychedelic rock production, complete with vintage sounding keyboards leading the way, backed by a booming bass and steady drums, and a sleepy detached vocal style with a lo-fi tinge to it. Markedly different from the original, where personal taste will dictate if that is a positive or a negative. Personally I find this to be an interesting single rather than an intriguing one. There's nothing here that I find to be detrimental of note, but nothing that gives me any goosebumps either. My friend and colleague Kev Rowland rather treasured this one, for me it's a good but not essential production. As such, personal taste in music will very much be the deciding factor as far as how interesting this single will be. Those with an interest in bombastic, vintage era lo-fi psychedelic rock will enjoy the B-side here, and those who know and love melancholic piano ballads will treasure the A side. The perfect audience being those who have a strong affection for both.