Watery Moon
Somebody's on the roof playing the blues
I will be up there too and pretty soon
On the coast the lover's light blows out
The watchman tries to shout
Turn back you fools!
You'll be dashed upon the rocks and doomed
in the Watery Moon
There's trouble on the high seas
and perils in the deep
And the moon casts spells and fantasies
on everyone asleep
And when they awake, they exclaim
What visions we have seen!
But by then it's just too late
Going down at 45 degrees
They were washed up, starcrossed and marooned
in the Watery Moon
And Neptune surveys the shipwrecks on the ocean bed
Harpoons and wonders
and what was once in men’s heads
Jake Aaron: Guitar, Vocals
Steve Lodder: Keyboards
Davide Mantovani: Double Bass
Marc Parnell: Drums
Words and music by Jake Aaron
Kenny Jones: Engineering
Recorded at Livingston Studios London 2024
Release date: 25 October 2024
REVIEWS
JAKE AARON - WATERY MOON
With a world weary louche vocal that nods to both Leonard Cohen and Kevin Ayers, guitar player and singer songwriter Jake Aaron brings every word of the cautionary “Watery Moon” to life. His hypnotic guitar and vocal, backed by long time jazz collaborators Steve Lodder, Davide Mantovani and Marc Parnell brews up an atmospheric melancholy. “Watery Moon” is the very promising first single of a forth coming album follow up to 2023’s excellent ALWAYS SEEKING. The players are assembled and sounding fine together and Jake is telling late night bar tales soaked in atmosphere, I cannot wait for the next album if it's all this good.
Time Past and Time Passing
JAKE AARON RELEASES “WATERY MOON”: A FIRST TASTE OF HIS UPCOMING ALBUM
Jake Aaron’s latest single, “Watery Moon,” showcases his distinct blend of acoustic warmth and lyrical nostalgia. The track opens with a steady, contemplative acoustic guitar, soon joined by straightforward vocals and a well-placed organ that complements the melody. Aaron’s inspiration for this piece came from the timeless charm of 1950s doo-wop songs, a genre he recalls with a sense of melodrama and reflection that shines through in both his lyrics and arrangement.
“Watery Moon” was recorded with Aaron’s trusted lineup, including Steve Lodder on piano and Hammond, Davide Mantovani on double bass, and Marc Parnell on drums, all of whom previously featured on his last two albums. The session was engineered by Kenny Jones, and, according to Aaron, the recording felt immediate and intuitive—captured on the very first take.
A London-born guitarist and songwriter, Aaron’s influences span multiple genres, from 80s synth to classical, rock, folk, and jazz, all of which he absorbed while exploring record shops in Camden Town. His previous albums and singles, such as Always Seeking (2023) and “Give Me Your Horse” (2018), have earned him recognition on Indie, Folk, and Jazz radio, including BBC’s Jazz Nights.
As a preview of his upcoming album due in 2025, “Watery Moon” is an exciting glimpse into what’s next for Aaron, a musician who continues to blend thoughtful, nostalgic lyricism with acoustic and jazz-infused arrangements that feel both fresh and timeless.
Wax Vinyl Records
JAKE AARON - WATERY MOON
I haven’t been drinking for a few days but London bard Jake Aaron provides lots of encouragement to change all that with his ‘Watery Moon’. And that is down to the manner of his performance, quietly funny, gently persuasive and the kind of soundtrack that most will sway to and in extreme cases waltz until the cows come home. Yep, it is a simple affair but we all need an escape from the tragic news cycle and ‘Watery Moon’ is a route to rediscovering the best of ourselves and see the best in everyone else into the bargain. Make mine a double.
MP3 Hugger
“Watery Moon": A Folk Song That Resonates with Retro and Acoustic Magic
In an era where melodies seem to get lost among synthesizers and digital production, “Watery Moon” emerges as a quiet whisper, a breath of fresh air. Jake Aaron , the British composer behind this work, gives us a song that reflects a serene folk spirit, with enough personality to stand out in today's music scene. With influences reminiscent of the legendary Leonard Cohen, Aaron, however, traces his own path through a distinct, intimate vocal performance that connects with the listener. There is a modern freshness that sets him apart from his predecessors, allowing him to resonate with new generations.
Oleada Indie
Jake Aaron’s “Watery Moon” Ushers in a New Era of Folk and Soulful Storytelling
Jake Aaron, a British guitarist and songwriter, has a musical journey that blends the warmth of folk with the storytelling spirit of rock and blues. Born and raised in London, his earliest sounds came from his grandfather, who crafted reed pipes by hand and gifted Jake a mouth organ. Although Jake took piano lessons at seven, it was at fourteen, when he picked up a guitar, that he truly found his instrument. From there, he began exploring every genre he could find—rock, ’80s synth, soul, classical, folk, jazz, and even heavy meta — all thanks to the well-worn records he scavenged from Camden Town’s Tape & Record Exchange.
Jake’s musical influences were shaped not only by his discoveries but also by unforgettable experiences as a young music lover. He slept outside Hammersmith Odeon for Iron Maiden tickets and came away with mementos like drumsticks from both Nikko McBrain and Tommy Lee. He still recalls the rush of seeing Ozzy Osbourne with Jake E. Lee just a few feet away. Meeting legends like BB King backstage and jamming with Huw Lloyd-Langton from Hawkwind added layers to Jake’s love for both rock and folk, but it was the intricate folk guitar stylings of Jerry Donahue and Jorma Kaukonen that most inspired his own acoustic work.
In 2015, Jake released his first EP of acoustic pieces, a raw and unpolished debut that nonetheless resonated with folk and indie reviewers, including Tim Carroll at FolkWords and Italian journalist Giancarlo Susanna. From there, his musical world grew. In 2018, he joined forces with remarkable musicians — Steve Lodder, Davide Mantovani, Marc Parnell, and Steve Waterman — who became regular collaborators. Their chemistry became evident on Jake’s single “Give Me Your Horse” and his debut album Fag Ash and Beer in 2019. In 2023, his album Always Seeking featured the vocals of Kate Kurdyak and guitar solos by John Etheridge, adding depth to his folk and jazz-inspired compositions.
His latest single, “Watery Moon,” released on October 25, gives a preview of the album he has in store for 2025. With its opening chords, Jake was reminded of the doo-wop ballads of the 1950s, infusing the piece with a wistful melodrama. The nostalgic feel of the track was something he enjoyed weaving into both the lyrics and melody. Alongside Lodder on piano and Hammond, Mantovani on double bass, and Parnell on drums, the group captured the track’s essence in a single take, engineered by the talented Kenny Jones. “Watery Moon” glows with the same warmth and meticulous artistry Jake has cultivated through years of diverse influence, experience, and collaboration. It’s a reflection of his journey from a kid with a mouth organ to a guitarist whose work resonates with folk, rock, and jazz fans alike.
Fusionostalgia