Finesse by Jan August & Jerry Murad's Harmonicats: A Blast from the Past That Still Tickles the Ears
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—1950 was a long time ago. Like, people were still figuring out how to use rotary phones back then. But somehow, Finesse, this quirky little gem from Jan August and Jerry Murad's Harmonicats, has managed to stay charming as heck. Released under Oriole in the UK, it’s part Folk, part World, part Country, and all sorts of delightful weirdness wrapped up in harmonica magic.
Now, I gotta say, when you listen to this album, you're not just hearing music—you’re stepping into some kind of vintage dreamland where everyone wears hats indoors and says “jolly good” unironically. And trust me, that’s not a bad thing.
First off, the title track, "Finesse" (duh). If ever there was a song that sounded like sipping tea with your pinky up while secretly plotting world domination, this is it. The harmonica work here? Flawless. It’s smooth, classy, and makes you feel smarter than you actually are. You know those moments when life feels chaotic but also kinda perfect? This tune nails that vibe without even trying too hard. Honestly, if Finesse were a person, they’d probably ghost you after three dates because they’re just that cool.
Then there’s "Ti-Pi-Tin." Oh boy, what can I say about this absolute earworm? Imagine someone took French nursery rhymes, gave them a shot of espresso, and handed them over to a group of hyper-talented musicians who decided to go full-on jazz-folk fusion. That’s Ti-Pi-Tin. It’s playful, catchy, and will have you humming nonsense syllables for hours. Is it deep? Nope. Does it care? Absolutely not. But dang, does it make you smile? 100%.
The rest of the tracks are solid, don’t get me wrong, but these two stick out like sore thumbs…or maybe happy thumbs? You know what I mean.
Here’s the kicker though—listening to Finesse feels like finding an old vinyl at a garage sale and realizing it’s worth way more than the 50p you paid for it. Sure, it’s dated, sure, it’s niche, but isn’t that the point? Music doesn’t always need to reinvent the wheel; sometimes it just needs to remind us that wheels are fun to spin.
So yeah, give Finesse a whirl if you want something different. Just don’t blame me if you start picturing yourself riding a bicycle through the English countryside wearing tweed. Unexpected bonus? Now you’ve got a great conversation starter next time you’re stuck at a dinner party.
