Are we looking at the final artist album from John Askew?? It is after all his first since his ‘Z List Uber Star’, which is currently closing in on its 20th anniversary. Add to that the duality of ‘A Room Full Of Pros & Cons’s title; the faintly Last Supper-ish lean of its cover, not to mention some flagrant nose-thumbing of LP conventions, and, well, the question could at least be asked.
As with so much in life though there’s more to that than meets the eye. Between John’s production schedule (breakneck), day to day roles in artist management, international touring (both as a DJ and live act), label management, event organising and his ‘open-all-hours’ industry rep, the man’s had his hands way full. Lesser wonder then that it’s taken him five years to close all the ‘P’s and curve all the ‘C’s on ‘A Room Full Of Pros & Cons’. The title’s John’s summation of half a lifetime’s worth of observations and experiences, garnered at the business end of the electronic music industry. One that hopscotched him from England’s unchained free party scene to Ministry of Sound resident, and from being managed by the biggest agencies to, himself, managing legendary names. All the while mind you, refusing to compromise on absolutely anything … ever. That’s always going to leave a mark, all of which has been poured into this album.
In ways big and small, subtle or big-print, ‘A Room Full Of Pros & Cons’s track titles (‘Running In The Dark’, ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’, ‘Take A Breath’, ‘When Darkness Comes’, ‘I Want Your Soul’ and ‘Afterburner’ to mention a few) each speak to its theme. Many are fueled by John’s signature sound, one as dependably immediate, tenacious, and floorward-thinking as any DJ from his bloc. Key to their potency is the intuitively high-wire balancing act Askew strikes between darkness and light, the subtle and the visceral, always ensuring there’s nuance and alchemic colour (or shadow!) in every floor roar.
Others tracks project their power through alternate studio methods. ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ (featuring singer Lyonheart) is a soul searing, breakbeat scattered affair, while ‘Grave Digger’ features a cavernous feel and apocalyptic polemic (voiced by Askew), straight from the darkest ‘Cons’ corner of the ‘Room’. Regarding that “flagrant convention nose-thumbing”, ’00.00’ sees John slide some doors with the album’s originally envisioned overture. Now track 5, it forms a brilliant palate-cleanse, ahead of the transcendental ‘Take A Breath’, (a collaboration with Sikh singer, songwriter and philanthropist, Manika Kaur) and the instantly infectious hook of ‘Running In The Dark’.
Artists of John’s ilk don’t tend to have vocal muses, and it’s debatable whether Ohio-born/Nashville-based singer Shelby Merry fills that role. As you cross John’s Room’ though, vocally, lyrically and significantly she features three times, each track with its own individual tone and something-to-say tale.
So, if this does prove to be John’s last LP hurrah, what’s he leaving us with? Well at the very least, 15 brilliantly honed pieces of music, fused together to create a cohesive, journeying bravura, that’ll delight his diehards, while drawing others to the flame. Half industry cheer, half-cautionary tale, ‘A Room Full Of Pros & Cons’ arrives on physical and digital formats Sept 27. Now … don’t say you weren’t warned. [blackhole.lnk.to/proscons]
