Fusing the singer-songwriter purity and doubled vocals of Elliott Smith, with a Bon Iver level of delicacy, and a Passenger-inspired poetic optimism, Jameel Farruk quickly manages to melt the heart and calm the soul with this single.
Folk
“I believe in the power of prayer; and I also appreciate sincerely expressed condolences when tragedies occur. However, sharing one’s thoughts and prayers after a mass shooting is NOT enough – we need to do more, MUCH more.”
Maxime fuses an organic folk sound with a mildly theatrical performance style for this EP, paying tribute to effective and raw musicality as much as his family background in theatre.
The simplicity of the composition can either seem heavily juxtaposed with, or completely at one with, the very idea of infinity.
It’s a dizzying and somewhat psychedelic experience, building to a schizophrenic whirlwind of deliberate dissonance and beauty that’s mashed together before being led to a marching string finale. It’s a singular listening experience that I‘d whole-heartedly recommend, with an extraordinary accompanying video that provides a complementary, slightly unnerving experience. Try both!
An achingly poignant lyric that (sadly) still holds true today, By My Silence essentially details how it’s wholly possible to be complicit in awful (or just unfair) things coming to pass by remaining fearful, passive and silent about them. It’s a lovely version of a melancholy-drenched tune.
All-in-all, The Rocky Coast of Maine is a stand-alone triumph, fulfilling its own mythology in its own run time. It’s beautifully played, beautifully told and is a haunting testament to folk music songwriting. Lovely.
“It’s the creation of something new and exiting. Sometimes, I just don’t know where these songs come from and I’m always on fire when it happens.”
Tommy Ocean is not only an easy name to remember but one that proves more than worthwhile doing so once you’ve spent even just ten minutes with this album. There’s a certain purity to his sound, which fuses beautifully & authentically with the deeply considerate, honest & insightful manner in which he writes.
The sweet orchestration of the track; the masterful blending of strings and acoustic guitars is reminiscent of singer-songwriters like Boo Hewerdine, erstwhile of The Bible. The percussion elements are a very welcome addition, too – adding a little drive to proceedings – but the major feeling here is one of reflection and contemplation. Dive in and have a soak.
Into The Fall allows, for many, the mind to feel a soulful human presence purely through melody, musicality, and mysterious poetry.
“I love the melodies in traditional Celtic music. I love the dance feel that happens too, but what really drives me are those beautiful melodies. They’re happy and sad and hopeful, just like life.”