Today, John Joseph Brill delivers his latest EP, arguably his most honest and diverse to date. Following on from the reassuring vulnerability of ‘I’m Not Alright’ and the simply heart-wrenching ‘A Place To Drown’, JJB’s foray into Future Islands-esque synthtronica is no exception to his confessional rule. ‘Smoke’ was written during a time of vices and escapism, as the former Burning Beard frontman tells us, it’s “about running towards your vices to keep yourself away from the truth of your own broken heart.” Perhaps that’s why reality-blocking dance rhythms pervade this track, to transport us to dimly lit nightclub somewhere where our thoughts are momentarily replaced by digital beats and strobe lights. However, as Brill’s gravelly admission - “you were all I wanted” - suggests, the distraction doesn’t last. It’s something the British artist came face-to-face with on tour in Germany last year, but as he explains “writing the record was incredibly therapeutic for me and I feel like I've learned a lot about forgiving myself." The I’m Not Alright EP has clearly been a personal venture with a transparent, unexpected and vivid result. - HT