James Bay is a young British singer and songwriter whose heartfelt songs and passionate vocal style suggest a greater maturity and experience than one would expect from an artist whose debut album was released when he was 24 years old. Chaos and the Calm, Bay's first full-length album following a pair of well-received EPs, reveals he has a precocious talent as a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist, and is just as comfortable with outgoing tracks like "Collide" as he is with intimate, personal numbers such as "Let It Go" as he winds together elements of pop, folk, rock, blues, and soul. Often compared to Ed Sheeran and Ben Howard, Chaos and the Calm shows James Bay has the style and the ability to stand on his own, and it's the work of a new performer with an impressive potential. ~ Mark Deming
Rovi
BBCの〈Sound Of 2015〉やブリット・アワードの〈Critics' Choice〉に選ばれて話題沸騰中の、UKはヒッチンに住むシンガー・ソングライター。ジャクワイア・キングをプロデューサーに迎えたこの初作では、甘いソウルフル・ヴォイスでエド・シーランみたいに愛を囁いたり、ホージアのように捲し立てながらブルージーな曲を披露したり。英国フォーキー・ポップの次世代ヒーローは、間違いなくこの人でしょう。
bounce (C)松元かれん
タワーレコード(vol.379(2015年5月25日発行号)掲載)