Jordan Lee – Fighter For Love
Multi-instrumentalist and multi-talented singer and composer Jordan Lee has finally released his debut album. Known as the co-writer and singer of French 80s funk and boogie sensation Dabeull, (his “Analog Love” LP was recorded on the same console as “Thriller”), Jordan impressed us two years ago with the sensational “Easy”. On “Fighter For Love”, his first LP (but only clocking in at around 24 minutes) on Gypsy Mama Records, he continues his fascinating production and arranging work which he brought to perfection on “Easy”. His crystalline voice, sometimes reminding me of El DeBarge, and the fact that he did everything by himself, all add up to making this a neo-soul meets 1982 masterpiece. The 80s funk, boogie, synth and keys influence is heard throughout the album’s eight tracks.
“Permanent Mark”, the album’s last track, is a luxurious soul ballad which is clearly one of the best songs I’ve heard so far this year. It’s a perfectly executed tune with brilliant and sexy vocals and a production and mixing work to die for. There are echoes of his Issac Hayes-styled smooth and sensuous “Mantra”, a single he released back in 2020. After his introductory speech which opens this fascinating album, Jordan continues with a short “Friends Or Lovers” interlude, backed only by guitar. Singer Holy Brune, who was also part of Dabeull’s last album, helps out on the superb “In Between Feelings”. This is early 80s bliss. He even comes up with a tantalizing bridge here. His lyrics are totally in sync with the music. On “Love Ride”, a song he released last year, he tries to fix a hurting relationship: “If we could stop arguing and fights/We would have gone for a drive/We can cross the line and still fight/
Or instead, have a love ride”. The music is both healing and melancholic, both lucid and incredibly poignant.
There is something totally hypnotic on “Rear-View-Mirror”, a scorching tune with a lingering beat which got me hooked from the very first second. “Blazing A Sun” is a slightly more uptempo tune which funks along with some great edges and turns with strings and keys. Probably the song which comes closest to the Dabeull album is the “Friends Or Lovers, Pt. II” tune, complete with Loose Ends pads and gorgeous handclaps. I keep coming back to “Permanent Mark” (which actually came out two years ago) though. The album is out on vinyl too!
