Johnny Blue Skies - Passage Du Desir

Travelers to the Chateau d’Eau neighborhood of Paris well know the allure of the curious Passage du Desir.

Previously titled Allee du Puits, the secluded pathway’s name was changed towards the end of the 18th century. The exact reason for its renaming was lost with time, allowing those intrigued enough to create their own conclusion to add to the ledger of legend.

Passage Du Desir arrives with a similar Parisian air of mystery, launching a new musical era of genre bender Sturgill Simpson. True admirers of Simpson, now coined Johnny Blue Skies, already know that everything that's unfolding is precisely as intended by the artist. No pretense, press or standards have ever confined Simpson’s artistic integrity, his eighth studio album is no exception.

Produced alongside David Ferguson, Passage Du Desir is a shape-shifting masterclass that morphs Simpson’s previous sonic landscape into an intricate kaleidoscope of lyric and sound. This assured baton handoff from Kentucky bred Simpson provides French living Johnny Blue Skies an unforgettable introduction.

The accordion-adorned opening of ‘Swamp of Sadness’ conjures images of the hazy cobblestone streets of Paris, providing a striking first sound bite of Skies. Delirious in reflection, he foggily remembers “floating around in the Marais Nights under the bright lights at Mignon on Beaumarchais” while failing to resist the tempting song of the siren. This longing transforms into smooth sexuality on soft rock ‘If the Sun Never Rises Again’, where Skies unfurls the higher range of his voice to find inescapable heights.

Such tenderness continues on psychedelic singalong ‘Jupiter’s Faerie’, as he laments the dissolution of a friendship, eventually erupting with guttural emotion towards the latter half. Over cosmic-infused piano orchestration, he forcefully whispers through the ether, “searched your name and saw the news that there was no more you.”

Skies finds comfort and humor in accepting change on outlaw classic ‘Who I Am’ and open-hearted acceptance of his love on tender ‘Mint Tea.’ When he confidently sings, “Only thing that makes sense is being next to you”, it’s impossible not to wholeheartedly believe every syllable.

An opus of love and connection, Passage Du Desir centers itself around the yearning to understand and be understood. For years, Simpson has questioned his identity; now, Skies seemingly provides him with at least the right tools to find the answer. An observant seeker, joyful father, friend and thankful lover, Johnny Blue Skies is a thrilling artist of the highest caliber.

9.5 / 10

Johnny Blue Skies' 2024 album, Passage Du Desir, is out now via High Top Mountain Records.

For more on Johnny Blue Skies / Sturgill Simpson, see below: