The subtle quirk of that off-kilter twang, the marching rhythm, the contemporary references, the rise and fall dynamic of the verse lines – everything plays its part and resolves in a brilliantly comforting way
Country
There are enough disparate rhythms, unexpected melodic developments and snatched moments of character that help set Dream Catcher apart from a lot of its rivals. It feels authentic and McMillan sells it well.
It’s accomplished and doesn’t require close examination, it’s all about the atmosphere and Believe It has it in spades. Timeless, distracting, lovely.
In songwriting terms, this reads like a ‘how-to’ example. It’s instant, energetic, feels organic and effortless and is topped off with some cracking vocals. Brilliant fun.
All in all, a fun romp through an unusual lyrical idea that tells a clear narrative with plenty of pop hooks.
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.
Dustin Chapman’s voice bursts through the acoustic set-up with absolute emotion and soul, proving an immediately appealing highlight of his sound, and effectively drawing you in closer for a better listen.
Ever-emotive songwriters By Small Ruin get all the more intimate and contemplative with this classically warm, country-pop look at long-distance love.
Growing Old isn’t the maudlin collection that you might expect from the title. What it is, is an appraisal of knowledge gained and lessons learned. An exploration of feelings and the sound of stock being taken. Best of all, it’s a wander through different soundscapes and states while all of the above is going on.
Brilliant music, refreshing songwriting in a timeless style. A beautiful pair of songs that are well worth knowing about this lock-down – particularly for those who feel so far away from their loved ones.
Tuneful, accomplished and thoroughly beautifully sung, it’s a traditional tale of regret, loss and repentance.
“I’ll likely start the creation of a new project, fall back into a tour/show schedule, strap my baby on my hip and figure it out!”