Jay Foreman: Pretend You're Happy

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That Jay Foreman can't half play the guitar. As the audience files in, there's some wonderful fingerpicking drifting from the speakers. It's only when a hidden voice chirps up that one realises the complex musical lines aren't from a CD, but from Foreman beginning his show.

This fine musicality continues throughout Foreman's own compositions. He's an accomplished songwriter and keeps the music varied and interesting. It's sometimes jazzy, sometimes wistful, but always tuneful.

It's a shame, then, that this layered complexity doesn't wend its way into Foreman's lyrics. For the most part they are jolly, whimsical numbers, vapidly referencing 80s and 90s culture. With the exception of a slightly distasteful singalong about putting "chavs" on the moon, this is mid-afternoon frivolity and nothing more. But an hour is a long time for it, so you'd better be feeling frivolous.