The County Durham musician unveils a new EP packed with pathos
Image by Leslie-Ann Spence
After a terrific debut record in 2018’s Thrills and Bills and a string of Christmas singles, Faithful Johannes returns in February with four-track EP …Is Hopeful.
Johannes says that this is his “most personal collection of songs to date”; tapping into the mundane detail of childhood to scintillating poetic effect – a tapestry of small poetic detail making a record that is packed with pathos. Whether he’s recognising his dad’s face in his own during a Skype call, ruing a misspent youth being perfectly behaved and succumbing to internalised guilt, or watching dead skin settle on an unplayed instrument, Johannes’ eye for detail and jet black sense of humour make …Is Hopeful an incredibly compelling listen. Johannes’ has self-deprecatingly referred to his music as ‘barely rap’, but the new EP displays his knack for rhythm and flow impeccably; these songs wouldn’t sound out of place on an Anticon Compilation. The EP is bolstered by a spooky remix courtesy of Me Lost Me and features artwork from Middlesbrough’s one man music factory Oli Heffernan.