Jon Clark, One Long Skid ‘A Knot in Time’
Jon Clark/One Long Skid shares nostalgic, classic rock aesthetic album A Knot in Time
A Knot in Time has the classic, nostalgic buzz in the sound that continues its conversation with time and space. The record brews a bittersweet complexity into its smooth and thoughtful texture and lingers in your thoughts for long. A Knot in Time is a brilliant and timeless record.
Connecting the dots between past and future, Jon Clark brings out a wide spectrum of palettes from soft rock, classic rock, country, and psychedelic with his band One Long Skid. Some of the tracks can be dated back to the 70s when Clark wrote them in the first place. With a poised approach to arrangements in instrumentation, backing vocals, and tones, A Knot in Time evokes familiarity to the ears and brings back memories.
“Follow that line, to a knot in time;
dizzy but it’s only for now
when I’m dark and a shadow not there
will your touch go right through?
in a moment a busy blank stare
spark of light, for this you knew.”
“A Knot in Time” swirls and spirals down memory lane to a different time. The track is enriched with memories and vibes, located halfway through the record. Jon Clark’s vocal comes to you in a vague and distant tone as if coming from a different universe. Like an aged scotch, “A Knot in Time” is a track that the more you listen to it, the more you could pick up its complexity and depth. With a speck of psychedelia, “A Knot in Time” is rich in the feels.
The title track certainly carries out the core aesthetic of the record. Nostalgic as it is, the record doesn’t dwell in the past but celebrates the vibrant colors and richness in life. A Knot in Time is so wonderfully orchestrated, blending different elements, influences, and memories into its sound.
As one of the most noticeable characteristics of this record, Jon Clark cleverly plotted a series of repetitions that really allows you the time to savor the taste, texture, and emotions behind each song. From the album opener, '“Jimmy Look Up”, Clark has inserted his brilliant songwriting and captivating melodies into your heart with a simple but powerful signature line, “Jimmy Look Up.”
“Complicated Woman” has a darker feel in the atmosphere as Clark dives into the character of this mysterious, sorrowful “complicated woman.” Instead of giving the audience the entire back story, the track takes on an impressionistic approach to paint a dark, sensuous soundscape and leaves some space for the audience to resonate with on their own term. The rusty and burning guitar solo in this track is simply perfect.
