Jake McElfresh – Front Porch Step to you and I has been riding the crest of a wave since his debut record ‘Aware’ dropped late last year. It was a record that was so packed with emotion, it came to no surprise that his music absolutely exploded, resonating on some of the most personal of subjects, it became a crutch for thousands of people. The thing is… when you release a debut that hits all the marks in that way, it’s usually stupidly difficult to follow up.
Step up ‘Whole Again’ a four track EP that serves as a bridge between ‘Aware’ and the next record to give us a taste of what to expect. Is it more of the same? Well… sort of. ‘Whole Again’ is nowhere near as angst ridden or angry as anything you would find on ‘Aware’ but that’s not to say it lacks any of the emotion… things kick off with ‘A Lovely Mess’ a song that proves that this just isn’t an EP that has been lazily put together to make sure people don’t forget about him. Its layered intro works perfectly and while the subject matter in the lyrics remain familiar, this song is basically a love song rather than a break up song. The back up vocals used in the chorus are brilliantly done too and is something that elevates McElfresh (Mr Step) to the next level from his debut.
The real meat in this EP comes in the form of the sombre ‘Heaven Sent’ featuring a brilliantly thought out guest spot from Ace Enders. It’s a song that’s the polar opposite to what came before it, it’s quiet, slightly eery and full of reflection so it’s nice that we get a little cover to follow it. Front Porch Step takes on ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ and doesn’t do a half bad job. There’s not much that can be said about a cover really except that McElfresh does well in making it his own.
Things end on the title track, ‘Whole Again’ which out of the four on display bares the closest resemblance to anything from ‘Aware.’ The subject matter is as heavy as it comes and McElfresh’s voice is probably at its most powerful. It’s a fitting end and one that leaves you wanting more… which on an EP between albums is absolutely vital.
Overall… ‘Whole Again’ does its job in the best way possible, it shows off Front Porch Step as a really good singer songwriter rather than a one trick pony. A stirling job.
CHRIS MARSHMAN