Andy Jackson : Signal To Noise

Andy Jackson, well known as the producer of Pink Floyd since the early 80’s, has now made his own fascinating record. It is fitting that such a renowned producer would use as his album title the recording industry term ‘Signal to Noise’ (comparing the level of desired signal to the level of background noise). Jackson is also using the term metaphorically with the theme of sifting out what is important in life from what is frivolous or irrelevant. It is impossible not to mention the Big Pink Elephant in the room, such is his longstanding connection with such an iconic band. However, this album is no pale shadow of Floyd as Jackson imaginatively and distinctively expresses himself across seven diverse songs.
The album opens very strongly with the shimmering, echoing sounds of The Boy In The Forest as Jackson muses on growing up and the loss of innocence, using the metaphor of a journey through the forest. Strangely, Jackson has explained that this powerful song was borne out of him improvising with the chords from country classic Wichita Linesman, demonstrating his openness to various influences, even if the resulting effects drenched piece bears little resemblance to one of it’s sources! The shifting stereo interplay of guitars on this song is mesmerizing, illustrating the boy’s path to redemption as the track fades away with the words ‘Time had finally shown him, he could always be free’. Those lines also underline Andy Jackson’s fundamental approach to this album as he felt a little compromised being in a band Eden House, with ex Fields of the Nephilim goth band member Tony Pettit. Jackson left to make music on his own terms, resulting in him playing every instrument on this album.