Rich Jones & Steel Tipped Dove - The Supplier (Vinyl)

Perhaps inspired by Dove’s beautiful and booming production, Jones is forthright about his overwhelming emotions here: He “weeps oceans” on “Daggers,” hides in walls from lurking demons on “Henny For Your Thoughts,” and dares ghosts to show themselves on “Button Hooks.” Each track is a held breath, eyes flicking up to the ticking second hand as it inches closer to midnight. Guests like SKECH185, PremRock, ZillaRocca, and 89 the Brainchild, most of whom joined Jones and Dove in the studio to lay down their verses, meet Jones at the edge of it all, formulating a way to take cover and take care of each other. Will Miller of Chicago psych-jazz outfit Resavoir appears on the swooning penultimate track, “Limbo,” with a gorgeous EVI (analog wind synthesizer) solo, which serves as a momentary exhale, as Jones reminds us not to be too tethered to the past. It leaves us with the hope that underlies all of Jones’s work: If our fates are written, it’s only in pencil, and we’re the ones holding the implement.