JAY-JAY JOHANSON THE LONG TERM PHYSICAL EFFECTS ARE NOT YET KNOWN ALBUM EMI RELEASE: JANUARY 17, 2006 REVIEW: JANUARY 28, 2007

Jay-Jay Johanson is feeling sad and sorry for himself. He is walking into a bar to sit at a table alone, staring at his glass and going over some personal failure again and again until the bartender starts cleaning up for the night.

Jazz elements and a mournful piano have taken center stage on several songs, emphasizing the black-and-white, pared down atmosphere of mournful pondering. My predictions about a stronger future emphasis on experimental electronica in my interview with Jäje (here) were obviously very far from the mark; never have acoustic instruments had such a prevalent position as on this album.

Jay-Jay Johanson simply has no surprises up his sleeve on this one. He is just being himself. Take it or leave it.

MATTIAS HUSS