When this album came across our desk as a complete package it stood out a mile. It was genuinely a breath of fresh air. 12 consistently subtle, thoughtful and exquisitely crafted songs steeped in classic vintage sounds. Slow-cooked organic food in the age of the microwave-ready meal.

With considerable care and massive attention to detail, Sheffield-based couple Julie Clarkson (Vocals, Guitar) and Bennett Holland (Vocals, Keyboards) have worked together on and off over a 12-year period, to painstakingly create an album of real depth and beauty. Literally a labour of love. And it shows. With a refreshing disregard for the Instagram-friendly, low attention span, and quick delivery times in which it was made, this represents the opposite: a long-form body of work that has been put together over a span of time; in itself a testament to the timeless quality of their sound; unfussy, uncomplicated, unshowy, but never-the-less accomplished, this is music with integrity, soul and passion.

A love letter to the love of music itself. You can feel it.

Taking the first 2 letters of their Christian names to make the project title JUBE, Julie and Bennett brought together friends from the local Sheffield music scene; Darren Campbell on Bass Guitar (who Bennett toured when they were both session players in a Groove Armada project) and Richard Storer on Drums (Bennett’s school friend and old band mate) with album producer (and another school friend) Tom Henthorn to create the debut album.

With influences from the introspection of Portishead to the lush keyboards of Supertramp, to the jazz infusions of Sade with classic soul sounds of Aretha Franklin and Al Green, Bill Withers and Carole King. We hear hints of Muscle Shoals studios, The Doors, Michael Franks and much more…

Unusually, the project is accompanied by a short documentary film charting the records inception which will itself be released shortly after the album. We think this is a contender for timeless summer classic 2020. But don’t take our word for it, this music speaks for itself… if you can just take the time out of your busy life to give it a proper listen!