Netherlands-based artist Jonny Nash returns to Melody As Truth with his new solo album, ‘Once Was Ours Forever.’ Building on 2023’s ‘Point Of Entry,’ this collection of eleven compositions draws listeners further into Nash’s immersive, slowly expanding world, effortlessly connecting the dots between folk, dreampop and ambient jazz.
While ‘Point Of Entry’ was characterised by a laidback, daytime ambience, ‘Once Was Ours Forever’ comes wrapped in layers of dusky, hazy shades of light, ushering in a slow moving sunset. From the cosmic Americana of ‘Bright Belief’ to the saturated shoegaze guitars of ‘Green Lane’ and ‘The Way Things Looked’, much of the record is underpinned by floating melodies, textural brush strokes and gentle fingerpicking; moments are grasped as they come and go, fleeting and ephemeral. He continues to experiment with voice, obscured and coming to the front in ‘Holy Moment’.
Whilst Nash’s gentle guitar playing forms the central pillar throughout, ‘Once Was Ours Forever’ is a world is built with the help of numerous collaborators, each of whom bring their touch to the record without overpowering it; Canadian ambient jazz saxophonist Joseph Shabason makes a return appearance, providing his delicate flourishes to ‘Angel’. Saxophone is also provided by Shoei Ikeda (of Japanese psychedelic trio Maya Ongaku), Tomo Katsurada (ex Kikagaku Moyo) provides cello, and Tokyo Acid Folk artist Satomimagae (RVNG) lends her haunting multilayered vocals to ‘Rain Song’.
As with much of Nash’s music ‘Once Was Ours Forever’ offers space for listeners to interpret and inhabit the music as they wish, Balancing delicacy and depth, with an uncanny ability to blend the pastoral and the profound, Nash has once again crafted an understated and gentle offering to the listener, created with love and compassion.
