Jason Kerrison, the prodigal pop rock son returns with the lead single from his upcoming debut solo album, The Timing. This is four years in the making and the (ahem) timing couldn't be better, released the day after becoming the inaugural winner of the Masked Singer NZ. "I wanted this track to really return me to me - as a songwriter, as an artist”, says Jason.

On first listen, I loved The Timing straight off the bat. There's a familiarity to it, Kerrison's unmistakable voice and supreme songwriting, yet it's not something you'd expect to hear on an OpShop record or The Baybysitter's Circus. So while I know it's Jason Kerrison, The Timing isn't him at all, or not as we know him. This is a song that has multiple layers, depth and weight to it, while still light, smooth, slick and as always... catchy.

The Timing opens with a gorgeous and spacious organ synth, just a bar before Kerrison's vocals glide in to settle like a mist over the lake. There's a wonderful echo/delay on the vox, which somehow sounds far away and yet isolated, I get the feeling that this is exactly the desired effect. The protagonist is in their spaceship a million miles away, with nothing but darkness and quiet contemplation. There's a distant sadness in the lyrics, the end of a relationship, but also revelation and ultimately, closure. Space features heavy, not only in the album artwork but all throughout the single, with layered synths and sonic imagery. Then a wonderful juxtaposition enters early, the song takes an upbeat turn, as if a sudden light shines through the cabin window. It's the amalgamation of synth-pop and multi-layered classic kiwi dub guitar, an unexpected but perfect marriage. All the while the rhythm section sits nicely in the pocket, nothing here forces its way, another neat trick to keep you flowing smoothly along the journey. Until we hit the bridge, for me there's something amiss here and I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just feels a little clunky. 

Obviously, the time spent shows, it's superbly produced. Primarily at Jason's home studio in the Far North, but he brought in some big hitting contributors, Dimmer drummer Will Scott and Greg Haver (producer of the last two OpShop records) jumping in on percussion. Final touches were a global effort, with The Timing being mixed in London by Paul Matthews (I Am Giant), and mastered in Berlin by Sebastian Braunreuther.

The Timing is a beautiful song, would I expect anything else from one our best singer/songwriters? No, no I wouldn't. Kerrison has worked hard on this solo project, it's not so much a reinvention as it is an evolution, one that I'm eager to follow. There's even talk of Virtual Reality content to accompany each song with a sci-fi narrative and aesthetic, sounds exciting. Take me to your ship, I want to get on board! 

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• 7
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