It's easy to imagine the kit sitting at peace like a tree in a forest clearing, calmly tapping away as the rest of the music dances around it; the bass plodding along the floor watching the vocals and melodies flying in circles overhead. Anyway, the highlight of the album for me has to be 'Sand People' solely for the wavering bass line that, for a short while, steals the conductor's baton from the drums. The title track 'Useless Wooden Toys' comes in a close second for it's comparative daring. Kennedy, who has never bothered adding his own voice to a track or two before, goes all Jack Johnson on us but in a more English and empathetic way.

It works well and it is interesting to sit and absorb his melodic musings. Add to this a continuous, very subtle, echo that resonates throughout the entire album, creating the illusion that you and the music are alone in a large white room. You then begin to feel all special and warm inside because it is as if Kennedy has put the album together simply for you to admire as surrounds you, bouncing of the blank walls while simultaneously painting them with any such images that you find relaxing and/or funny.

Useless Wooden Toys does not dictate thought, it inspires it. Jon Kennedy obviously had a laugh while making it; evidence enough comes at the start of 'All A Dream' when an innocent voice admits 'it's not been Jon speaking; it's been Jon pumped full of drugs having a dream'. Just to prove I am not completely in love with Jon Kennedy (yet), the one track that I cannot get along with is 'You, You & You'. It just seems a little too same old same old and repetitive. Useless Wooden Toys is the perfect album to put on, get on with whatever you want/need to do and then to tune back onto when your mind is done wandering. Take what you like from this album, Jon doesn't care.

8/10

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