What a voice, somewhat hidden but strangely bold and beautiful regardless. Embracing vulnerability on a level rarely heard, blending a kind of openness and imperfection with a clear soulful intent and talent.
Sam Gelston counters reverb-drenched vocals with the crisp audible slide of acoustic fingerpicking, for the striking lyrical journey of See Through Now.
I’m Coming to L.A to Kill You is the memorable opener, an acoustic song with a looping statement that haunts and humbles. Simple but striking, and impressively unforgettable in its minimal, outspoken nature.
What begins as intimate, however, soon evolves into fully immersive rock – the natural passion and power of Sam’s voice reaching peak expressive nuance, with rightful support from a loaded soundscape, amidst the likes of Somethings Last a While.
At other moments, we return to the acoustic fingerpicking, the space and calm contemplation – Idky, Make it Make Sense – and always the voice and its fearless revelations draw us right into the centre of some diary-style outpouring, often on behalf of mental turmoil, impending doom, or the dizzying nature of modern life.
Mildly reminiscent of softer releases from the likes of Audioslave, Kings of Leon, and perhaps more recent indie projects like TJ Gurn’s Callin’, there’s a certain authenticity to Sam Gelston’s See Through Now that’s impossible to fake. The songs are beautiful, they cry out on behalf of pain and beauty intermittently, and they hold you captivated in the process.
These recordings feel like single takes, moments captured that can never quite be recreated with the same level of uncertainty and longing. Make It Make Sense is a particularly striking example, but the project in full consistently draws you back to this quality, and as such, it’s addictively understanding, comforting, and heart-breaking, to lose yourself here with Sam.
