Album Review: Jamie Cullum - Momentum

For the diehard fans of Jamie Cullum, Momentum may come as a shock, as he veers away from his usual jazz-heavy content, but this doesn't mean listeners won't be pleasantly surprised.

In less than an hour, the album packs a punch, delivering an energetic and instrumentally rich listening experience that still has its jazz influence, yet is infused with a wide spectrum of genres. Apart from using DIY home demos and everything from iPhone apps and cassette recorders, Momentum also experiments with a wide variety of instruments including a glockenspiel, an organ, strings, horns and synthesizers.

The album opens with The Same Things, a wildly melodic track driven by mainly percussion, and ends on a high note with a very pop/rock track You're Not The Only One. Amidst that, he includes several theatrical tracks like the ironic-yet-jazzy When I Get Famous and a fresh interpretation of Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.

But there's one that stands out from the rest, and that's Cullum's cover of Love For $ale, a classic show tune by Cole Porter. It samples Roots Manuva's Witness The Fitness and also features said English rapper. Slipping in this track halfway through, Cullum has managed to make the perfect blend of old and new, and of jazz and hip hop, showcasing his undeniable and consistent talent of adding his own magical touch to covers.

Sadly, Momentum does fall short at some points when overproduction masks Cullum's unique voice and clever songwriting. Nevertheless, an album so layered and so creatively done still manages to captivate.