The joyful spirit of 1980s jangly guitar pop is alive, well and – definitely – kicking, as Oxford power-pop combo Jody And The Jerms demonstrate with their fourth album, Love Descends.
Release Date: 4th November 2025
Label: PinDrop Records
Format: CD / Vinyl / Digital
FRESH, VIBRANT, ALIVE AND KICKING
They came together in Oxford, back in 2019, and Jody And The Jerms have, it seems, been making waves ever since, with their special brand of punchy, vibrant power-pop. Their music has attracted the attention and admiration of such powerful arbiters of taste as Amy Lamé, Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie and has drawn comparisons with the likes of The B52s, The Bangles and Strawberry Switchblade.
Jody is Jody Jeger, and The Germs are: Niall Jeger on guitars, Salma Craig on acoustic guitar and vocals, Rob Anwood on keyboards and piano, Sam Hutchinson on bass, Steve Clark on drums and Peter Millson on guitars and backing vocals. Love Descends is the band’s fourth full-length album and it picks where previous album, 2023’s Wonder left off. The album is a collection of the singles that Jody and the Jerms have been drip-feeding their fans over the past couple of years, plus a slew of new material. The songs recreate the glory days of jangly 1980s guitar pop, and they’re fresh, they’re vibrant, they’re alive and they’re definitely kicking.
MAKE YOU DANCE AROUND THE ROOM…
When asked about the lyrical and thematic inspiration behind the songs on Love Descends, Jody explains: “Love Descends is a personal collection of songs about the many facets of love – both romantic and platonic – in all its messiness and complexity. We wanted to create songs that are both poignant and thought-provoking and yet still make you want to dance around the room.”
As a mission statement, that’s a powerful one and, if you ask me, that mission has been well and truly accomplished. Only a granite statue would be able to resist getting up and shaking a few limbs to this music…
VARIETY
It’s a slice of trademark Jody and the Jerms that gets Love Descends up and running. Opening track, Hooch and Happiness is as joyful and invigourating as anyone could expect. The guitars are bright and jangly and Jody’s vocals are alive and uplifting. Some Day is slower-paced but no less refreshing; the guitars continue to jangle, Sam’s bass is vibrant and the harmony vocals are excellent.
If anyone is getting the impression that Jody And The Jerms are stuck in any kind of format, then think again. There’s a wide variety to the sounds they make, as they demonstrate with the funky, clunky, Divine. They’re making a BIG statement here, in a strident anthem that’s awash with percussion, earthy bass and heavy guitars. And the variety expands further for Seen It All Before as a tinkly synth paves the way for riffing guitars on a thrusting rock song that – for some treason – reminds me of Martha and the Muffins.
A BRASH, JOYOUS, STOMPER
The trumpet of guest Andy Boyd takes the lead for Unraveling, a brash, joyous, stomper of a song. It’s another livener, with Jody’s melodic vocals contrasting nicely with the driving rhythm and the soaring brass. But, in case you’re starting to think that things are getting a tad too adventurous (and I’m not thinking that in any way…) Rob’s synths step in to take us right back to the 1980s for Lights, a song that provides an indication of what The Bangles would have sounded like, if they’d admitted Gary Numan into their ranks.
All of the songs on Love Descends are in-house compositions and Jody is the album’s principal lyricist. The rocky A Different Place bucks that trend slightly as it’s all Salma’s own work. It’s choppy and it’s punchy, with a thumping bass rhythm and some tasty organ licks from Rob. The pace is fast and there are more of those nice harmony vocals to enjoy, particularly during the “Take me to a different place…” chorus.
FROM ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM TO THE OTHER
Jody and the Jerms show us yet another aspect of their impressive arsenal with Liberation, a song built around a fuzzy guitar riff but which opens up to let the synths take over for the “I’m feeling so alive…” refrain. And then – an abrupt change of pace and direction. Guitarist Peter Millson’s Given Up Trying is a reflective, mellow, melodic ballad; a song with a lot of depth. Jody’s voice, acoustic guitar and gentle piano are soon joined by the whole band and the picture is completed by the rich tones of guest Artem Litovchenko’s cello.
And, moving from one end of the spectrum to the other, I Don’t Wanna is punky and lightning fast, with Jody’s voice upfront and urgent. The guitars are twangy and piercing and Steve’s drumbeat is as quickfire as a loaded Kalashnikov.
SAVING THE BEST UNTIL THE END
Yes – there’s a lot of variety here, and Jody And The Jerms don’t always restrict their genre-bending experiments to separate songs. With Severance, for example, the full-bore heavy rock of the verses contrasts surprisingly well with the almost-reggae of the choruses whilst, above the riffs and rhythms, Jody’s voice is soft, endearing and extremely tuneful.
I love it when an album is sequenced to save the very best until last, and that’s what Jody and the Jerms have done with Love Descends. Closing song Winter Heart is my favourite track on the album. Wonder Stuff violinist Erica Nockalls sits in; her violin parts are prominent and they sit perfectly alongside Sam’s loping bassline. Jody is, once again, on top vocal form, and the harmonies are, once again, delicious. It’s a fine ending to a refreshing, entertaining, album.
Watch the official video to Severance – a track from the album – below:
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