The ever-poetic wordsmith Bricen Mac returns this summer with perhaps his most heartfelt & openly appreciative release yet. Directly addressing his father, presenting the song as a gift & a thank you, Dear Father brings back that quietly confident vocal tone, amidst a smooth & ballad-like, piano-led backdrop.
Music
The very concept of balance, of needing to find that in order to achieve peace and to re-connect with those who matter, is something rarely pondered in modern hip hop; or music in general. This song goes against the grain in many ways, not throwing blame or leading with guilt, just keeping things honest.
TexMex Shaman’s return this month brings an explicitly unique cover of a summertime classic. In his own words, when approaching this yesteryear hit from The Commodores, TexMex Shaman tried to ‘keep the soul and change the shoes;’ a brilliantly fitting phrase that actually perfectly well encapsulates the journey you’re about to embark upon.
The simplicity of the composition can either seem heavily juxtaposed with, or completely at one with, the very idea of infinity.
Containing the slightly punky spirit of bands like Dr. Feelgood, it’s well produced, performed and presented – and hooky. It deserves to do well.
In terms of genre, New Realms (that title is probably a clue!) is borrowing from all over the place. As well as the influences I’ve already mentioned, there is something of Ulrich Schnauss-era Engineers about the overall effect of the EP. It’s rich, imaginative, compelling and intriguing. It’s hard to imagine higher praise than this.
Awe hits so many sweet spots during its run time, it’s genuinely difficult not to keep hitting repeat as a reviewer. This makes me think real attention has been paid to the arrangement – there’s never a dull moment – and right up to the end, new colours are used to draw us in sonically. Great stuff!
Lonely builds and bubbles up in a perfectly emotional manner, right the way through until its ultimate, beautifully chaotic breaking point. A powerful and timeless track that brings together unquestionable purity and pain from the depths of the human experience.
This album is something like progressive shoe-gaze, less soaked in reverb, with a little more clarity, and really just a creatively free and fairly unique angle to it. Worth a listen if considerate and intentional songwriting draws you in – as well as delicately hard-hitting rock backdrops.
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!
In a world full of volume and unnecessary quirks designed to grab attention, songwriting and smooth, pure performances such as this have the ability to stand out and make a difference thanks to their realness and the clear talent at their core. Ride For You is a humble and beautiful release, a moment well captured.
The well-traveled and musically eclectic artist that is Jonathan Anderson, better known lately as The Tiny Violinist, emerges as perhaps one of the most hard-working and passionate solo instrumentalists of 2019.