In recent years there have been only a handful of artists who’ve written in this sort of dramatic, passionate acoustic fashion. For the most part, it’s a style of music reserved for powerful & important storytelling.
Acoustic
If you’re a fan of the kind of songwriting and tone once mastered by the likes of Tracy Chapman, UB40, Jack Johnson – George Hierro is a superb indie artist, with a fine ear for effective melodies, beautiful guitar work, and a lyrical backbone that opts to roam where much of mainstream music wouldn’t dare.
The choice of instruments and production make this a timeless collection – and it’s a joyful listening experience, with a vibrant, beating heart that welcomes you in and has reserved you a seat by the fire.
Immediately setting the right kind of mood for this artwork and this title concept, Lost Platypus’ single Stranded trickles into the room with an acoustic guitar strum and some jazz-kissed flickers of solo, creating a perfectly beach-side vibe from the offset.
Leading with precisely the crisp and clean finished implied by the title, Terry Blade’s EP Misery (Mastered For Headphones) offers a beautifully intimate, soulful performance that connects on a deeply human level.
Bold and expressive vocals ride alongside equally eloquent and emotive piano-work, to lead listeners through a deeply personal yet minimalist piece of music and writing that is Time Is What I Need.
Softly combining the gorgeous organic tones of strings, guitar and banjo in a traditional folk manner, Wayne Sharkey’s poetic songwriting and depth of tone shine beautifully on his new single We’re Not Free.
“To this day, coffee shop shows continue to be my favorite. I love that by the end of the set, there’s the potential for everyone to be friends. It’s like a social experiment that is bonded together by music and warm, delicious goodness.”
A beautifully connected body of work that has an agenda of gentle care and wonderful, wide-eyed story-telling. It smacks of an uncompromising vision and an affinity for the work that’s both singular and compelling.
From delicate acoustic beginnings, to the full-throttle passion of a classic rock ballad, the single showcases an artist at the top of her game.
New England outfit Sepsiss step away from distortion temporarily, proceeding to deliver a live-acoustic performance that’s beautifully immersive and confidently tips its hat to the MTV Unplugged days.
All in all, a fine introduction to a uniquely expressive band. A dash of Elliott Smith meets with a hint of Beach Boys and even a slight touch of Radiohead on occasion.