Indie pop with a hopeful groove and contrasting darkness on display lyrically – Cam Row delivers a gentle but impassioned and captivating pop-rock gem, with the therapeutic escapism and confrontation of Shoulderman.
Good vibes connect first and foremost, an old-school indie rock guitar pattern and pace, with delicate vocals both expressive and quietly contemplative on the front line. The soundscape later evolves to welcome warping and distortion, a kind of artistic encapsulation of the introspection and struggle that is Shoulderman, and before this we get the easy resolve of the hook.
The title is a key part of the appeal, we’re in a sort of alternative indie or Brit-pop arena stylistically, but it’s fresh, and a conceptually poignant. ‘The man on my shoulder’ is familiar, relatable, but the framing of that idea is new, and the artistic explosion of the song’s latter half is brilliant in bringing home the true weight of the topic.
From lightness through difficulty to satisfaction and resolve – Shoulderman introduces the humility and realism, the talent and enjoyable grooves, of Cam Row, in a way that leaves you keen to explore the charm and mystique bigger project.
“This album was catharsis. I hope you don’t think it’s absurd.”
Find Cam Row on Instagram.
