There are a lot of singer-songwriters who are pretentious tossers. York-based Jonny Gill isn’t one of them. ‘Thieves, Ghosts and Giants’, his debut album, is a simple and supremely honest collection of songs that he’s been playing live in countless pubs and gig venues over the past few years.
He’s a shy, introverted soul, but because the material’s had plenty of time to bed in, Gill’s delivery is assured and confident – as well it might be, because he’s got some beautifully touching songs, which he sings from the heart.
Drawing on his own experiences and emotional states – as well as his surroundings, as on ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us’, which, rather than being a Sparks cover, is an original composition in which Gill sketches a picture of his hometown of York and wonders if he will ever leave it – or if he even wants or needs to – ‘Thieves, Ghosts and Giants’ gives the impression of being an intensely personal record.
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Many of the songs are reflections on relationships, as well as the near-misses and never-weres, and through them Gill explores a broad range of emotions, but manages to avoid self-pity. Perhaps surprisingly, he’s at his best and most affecting when he’s on a ‘sad and lonely’ trip. In laying his soul bare and showing his most vulnerable side, Jonny Gill proves that the most personal songs are also the most universal.
Jonny Gil Online
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