It’s getting to be that time of year again when those both quirky and underrated appear from hibernation for a quick flash in the spotlight of the city festival. It is not difficult to imagine, therefore, that Jamie David and Miracle Band X would find themselves in the glow of such intellectual admiration.
When you analyse “Quarrelling with the Spider Monkey”, there isn’t really much there other than a man, an acoustic guitar and a string arrangement. Of course when the man is Jamie David then it is no surprise that his acoustic guitar resonates with words of dignified poetry and a certain melancholic passion while the string arrangements provide more than enough supportive emotional context. It is therefore fair to say that the sum exceeds the value of the component parts and that “Weave” and “Rise Up” are the songs that best demonstrate his somewhat eclectic style.
Whilst likely not everyone’s cup of ginseng tea, “Quarrelling with the Spider Money” is the kind of thing that your more upmarket folkster will certainly appreciate.
The EP is available from Bandcamp.