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Jim Bonar: Full Circle

Having been absent from these ‘shaky isles’ for nearly 10 years, Jim Bonar has returned from the UK with a
follow up to his 1993 album ‘Blue Boy’. Released on his own Black Tie label, ‘Full Circle’ was recorded at Waterhouse Studios in London, and produced mainly by Simon Wring, though Marshall Bird (Stereophonics, Tom Jones) produced tracks 1 and 13. There are some good musicians on this album - great groves too, however, apart from the tracks produced by Bird, the drum programming too often lacks believability, sounding too mechanical. Bonar is a big Beatles fan - he’s dedicated this album to the late George Harrison, though if he were a Beatle he’d be Paul McCartney. Like McCartney his voice has a sweet, fragile quality. McCartney of course, had John Lennon to add grit to the mix - I can’t help feeling Bonar’s music needs some mongrel. Where this album fits within the NZ music industry I don’t know - there’s nothing original here, and the songs often sound dated. However, if you like thoughtful lyrics and pleasant melodies, do give this album a try.

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