Tobias Jesso Jr. - Don’t

Tobias Jesso Jr’s long forgone fancy bells and whistles in favour of a more classic template; armed with the same black-and-white key-tinkling clout of Elton John and Harry Nilsson. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that his first release since his debut album ‘Goon’ tugs at the old heart-strings with the same laserpoint accuracy, hanging heavy coats of emotion off soulfully chiming coathangers.

“I can wait longer, there’s nothing after this,” our Toby insists over and over, clinging onto something that’s fading away, despite all the warning signs flashing at him like a dodgy disco rig yer da dug out his garage for the annual Town Hall fundraiser. “You cheated on my whole world,” he despairs elsewhere, on this wonderfully spare, out of the blue demo.

‘Don’t’ doesn’t exactly see Tobias reinventing. If anything it takes a glance back to his most minimal early demos. Then again, the only thing broken here is Tobias’ poor heart - another beautifully pitched ballad from (probably) the tallest man in music.