So here they come, another band from Cork – surely now rivalling Dublin as the most creative place in Ireland. Except that Jodavino aren’t just another band from Cork. There’s a good deal of history to them, not least Joe Philpott’s stint in the much fancied Ruby Horse.
In fact, all involved have been on the block for a while, a level of experience that serves Jodavino very well indeed. It’s refreshing to hear a band who bring a slightly more mature approach to their craft; Deep End is a well thought out, beautifully executed album that manages to avoid the slow descent into dullness that often accompanies such attributes.
Key to this success is co-vocalist Aoibheann Carey, surely set to join Carol Keogh and Catherine Dowling at the vanguard of Irish female singers. Together with brother and fellow frontperson Joe, she weaves a thread of magic through Jodavino’s guitar rock that takes it out of the ordinary. The opening half of the record is uniformly excellent, especially the understated drama of ‘Over And Above’, ‘House Of Shade’ (strangely reminiscent of The Walkabouts) and the single ‘Move Me’.
From there on, the band seem to be trying just a little too hard (the hysterical rock of the title track doesn’t suit them at all), but fortunately the abiding memory of the album is a wonderful one, prompted by the classy, floating electronica of ‘My Poor Heart’.
New kids on the block they might not be, but Jodavino look set to be a big name in the class of 2007.