Johnathan|Christian

Dark Hallways by JOHNATHAN|CHRISTIAN Review by Amelia Vandergast https://www.anrfactory.com/johnathan-christian-car-crash-romance-ominously-indulgent-post-punk/ I can’t quite remember the last time a prelude to a track filled me with the same amount as nervous anticipation as what I palpitated through after hitting play on the latest single from the Post-Punk powerhouse Jonathan Christian. After the eerie creeping tonality coming from keys and synth, “Car Crash Romance” certainly doesn’t disappoint as it brings in a new fresh darker wave of doom and morbidity. Despite the synergy of the instrumentals and electronic effect, there was a sense of volatility behind the single. It’s the aural equivalent to falling in love with Ted Bundy, and I’m definitely here for it. Even with the ominous indulgence, Car Crash Romance carries the same stylistic sensibility which you could expect from the likes of Joy Division and Depeche Mode. If anyone has the right to take the reigning Goth crown from Peter Murphy, it’s Christian Granquist for his mesmeric snarls. Describing Car Crash Romance as entrancing really wouldn’t be a stretch; it’s the darkest most danceable Post-Punk I’ve heard this side of the 80s. The single pulls together the same instrumental euphoria as bands such as Covenant, VNV Nation, and And One, yet with their own unique style, they infused caustic Post Punk which any fans of the Editors are sure to appreciate. You can check out Johnathan Christian’s latest single Car Crash Romance for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp. #JohnathanChristian #carcrashromance

While Johnathan|Christian were working on their latest album, a former middle schoolmate of Johnathan Mooney’s, Henry Vaccaro Jr., proposed a collaboration with a family member of a very special musical clan. "My father was a close friend of Johnny Cash, whom he had met through his role with the Kramer Guitar Company,” writes Vaccaro. In fact, Kramer Guitar grew to become the largest American Manufacturer of electric guitars in the 1980’s. “My Dad was a huge Johnny Cash fan and brought the entire band guitars in 1976 and our families have been friends ever since. “ The idea behind this unique collaboration all came together through Vaccaro’s love of dark wave and post-punk. “I first met Johnny Cash’s grandson, Thomas, when we were children and now watching him break out on his own I was blown away by his uncanny vocal resemblance to his Grandfather. His phrasing, tone, spirit, drive and humility are all these remarkable traits passed down from the Man in Black. Thomas is a true dark soul but with country blood running is his veins. I was already a fan of Johnathan|Christian so when I first heard Thomas covering "Hurt" I thought between both parties, they would not only pay homage to Thomas' grandfather but also to the original Trent Reznor version." Knowing that Johnathan|Christian had huge shoes to fill, the band enlisted some help from old friends Clause Larsen (Leæther Strip) and multi-media artist Victor Devilbliss, a.k.a. Michal Bann of 90's band Advent Sleep, whom coincidentally, was going through his own personal struggles since the death of his nephew, Los Angeles musician, Shawn Bann. "Working on this put me into a place emotionally that I needed to be. In the process of putting the remix together of Johnathan|Christian’s cover, I kept thinking about Shawn. I’m not incredibly spiritual, but my nephew’s (Shawn) influence on me permeated and I feel (that) he was ultimately the inspiration for the ‘Love Forever’ mix with the title paying homage to one of his songs. For Johnathan|Christian members Johnathan Mooney and Tiger Koehn, coming up with something that would remotely do any justice to both originals was a daunting task. “Trent Reznor’s ’Hurt’ was such an emotional song that told a very dark tale” Says Mooney. “And then you have Johnny Cash’s version and that was like a huge kick in the stomach that just left you speechless in its rawness.” For this to work, it was important for us to tell the story in a different light. “While Johnny Cash sings about all that’s left, I felt that grandson Thomas, whom while also had his own share of demons, is now on the beginning of a journey. An ‘Empire of dirt’ is, not only what we end with, but it’s also all we start with” That theme also ties in to the album cover, created by award winning horror illustrator, artist and Johnathan|Christian album cover designer Alex McVey where we see a lone figure watching a sunrise as he starts on a journey with a familiar shadow watching. released September 18, 2018 Hurt Written By Trent Reznor Copyright Arlovol Music & Leaving Hope Music Inc. Hurt (Featuring Thomas Gabriel) Produced by Johnathan|Christian Vocals: Thomas Gabriel Additional Backing Vocals: Geriel Recorded at Single-Malt Studios, Orange County, CA & Sweet Leaf Studios, Brooklyn, NY Hurt (Leæther Strip Mix) Remix produced by Clause Larsen "Hurt" (Love Forever Mix) Remix produced by Michael Bann Dedicated to the memory of Shawn Bann, 1980-2017

http://www.chaindlk.com/reviews/?id=8980 Artist: Jonathan|Christian (@) Title: the nothing i feel Format: Download Only (MP3 + Lossless) Label: self-released Rated: ***** Has it already been two years since Jonathan|Christian released 'Beautiful/Hideous' ? I guess it has. 'the nothing i feel' is the followup to that, inspired by their musical roots with lush strings and the haunting keys of a grand piano, continuing their momentum bringing the best of old and new gothic rock. The album was mastered at The Cage Studios, Coventry, UK by Martin Bowes of Attrition, and features a remix by former KMFDM'er En Esch and drums by The New Creatures' Tiger Kohen on a couple of songs, including a cover of the Siouxsie Sioux/Danny Elfman song "Face to Face". Jonathan Mooney is the instrumentalist/songwriter of this duo, while Christian Granquist provides the vocals and lyrics. (Mooney is formerly of the New Creatures and now living and working out of Orange County, CA, Granquist is formerly of Day Behavior and plays keyboards in an electronic group out of Stockholm called The Atom.) 'Beautiful/Hideous' which I reviewed a good long while ago was an atmospheric, moody affair , full of pathos and high drama. On 'the nothing i feel' they haven't forsaken that, but they have pumped up the power quite a bit and that's a very positive thing. Opening with a brief lyrical recitation on the title track, Christian ensures the nothing he feels will be the nothing you feel as well. Disaffected, disillusioned, bordering on disgust, a welling up of emotion in a powerful catharsis that sweeps you away until the pseudo-classical fadeout. Wow! Rather intense. I should mention that Christian's voice sounds like a grittier Peter Murphy, but still somehow different, unique. "Goodbye Horses" and "Forgotten" are two nice tracks with appropriate impassioned delivery and lush orchestration, but "The Pink & The Black" kicks Jonathan|Christian up to a new level for them; an unstoppable locomotive of a dancefloor burner with ardent lyrics and vocals that pushes the needle into the red zone on the gothometer. "Independence" begins as a brooding piano-based ballad, but picks up steam towards the end. "Her Austere Heart" is an attempt to break the ice of the ice queen, steeped in gothic romanticism lyrically and orchestrally. A heavenly chorus ushers in "Your Lying Virtue" betraying the uptempo motif of this solid rocker that offers a few arrangement twists over the course of its four minutes and forty seconds. Another deeply emotional ballad follows with "I'm Dead (Without You)" and Christian really wears his heart on his sleeve and bares his soul for this one. "Hush" is a 52 second lullaby done old school with only piano and violin accompaniment that sounds positively nineteenth century, transitioning into into "Face To Face". For me, this is a tough one. This is one of my all-time favorite Siouxsie songs and hearing another version of it (when the original is perfect) is not easy. Be that as it may, Jonathan comes up with an interesting arrangement for the song. It's plenty powerful, and yet somehow delicate. Christian handles the vocals on it fairly well too. The album technically ends with the En Esch remix of "The Pink & The Black" and this is the one DJs are going to want for the clubs. I usually don't care much for remixes, but this one really rocks! I'm impressed. There is one more I was privy to - the Kitty Lectro Remix of "Forgotten". It's a somewhat stripped-down version of the original, and while nice, not essential. Guitar is more prominent, rhythm is simplified but overall, kind of superfluous, so you're not missing out on much. 'the nothing i feel' is a solid album with many good tracks, and some really great ones. You can preview the whole thing on their Bandcamp site, and buy it there too, or just what you like. (Buying it all give you more bang for the buck.) Powerful stuff, and if they ever play live in your area, you'd better catch them.