Lifelong creative and indie favourite Rasmus Fynbo, standing tall on the back of over 25 years of experience as a musician, releases this season a stunning collection of original tracks – in collaboration with the wonderful vocals of Argentinian singer Camila Castellani.
A Speck of Light sees Fynbo lean more notably towards the organic, often unplugged tones of indie folk, and offers twelve sublime new songs, each built around poetic observations and ever-engaging, long-form melodies and patterns; the complexity and simultaneous satisfaction of which are consistently calling cards of the Rasmus Fynbo sound.
We begin with the brilliantly catchy and timeless A Summer Day In April, Camila’s voice beautifully igniting the natural layers and tones of the instrumental, whilst reflecting on the longing and nostalgia of the lyrics in a way that feels perfectly connected.
It’s an impressively strong start, a sensational song, and already a favourite from the year so far. No surprise then, to note that A Summer Day In April has already drawn in tens of thousands of streams on Spotify alone.
Into The Woods follows, an hypnotic groove, hopeful and warm, mildly upbeat, loaded with harmonies and further images and ideas that feel indicative of a thoughtful songwriter with a bold awareness of the impermanence of time. The joint vocal chorus is mighty, an altogether now moment that will no doubt prove an absolute gem at live shows.
Further folk stylings lay down strong riffs and a smooth bass line, for the cool and quirky Late September Sky. Another intoxicating shuffle of a song, with a catchy rise and fall elevating the loving sentiments and memories at the heart of the lyrics. Departure follows on well, a bluesy march of a track, instrumentally fresh and rhythmically infectious, with rising passion and intriguing lyrics that captivate throughout.
Fireflies opens up with an immensely distinct instrumental trait – a quality rarely found in indie rock and folk these days, but something seemingly mastered from one song to the next by Rasmus Fynbo. Then we get the acoustic delicacy and melancholic whisper of Le Lac, a versatile shift with sublime harmonies and intoxicating melodic progressions.
Soon a sultry Gypsy-jazz vibe emerges in the form of the paired harmonies of a shoulder-swaying A Poisoned Meal, another welcomed change in mood and a fascinating highlight, before the softer folk tones and language variation of Anhelando lights up a new sense of enchantment. This moment leads well into the poignant poetry and darker intrigue of a stunning Sea Of Time.
Always the project reminds us of our connection to the natural world, and the depth of our feeling, our being, as intimate humans united in our experience of this realm.
Contrast matters with albums, and the variation in key, in instrumental lead, in vocal power and story, all makes for a gripping collection from start to finish. In example, the title-track, Speck Of Light, offers a suddenly strummed acoustic-pop moment that’s as lyrically original as ever, but which also satisfies for its rising anthemic optimism, supreme guitar-work, and the explosive energy of the vocally intertwined rock chorus.
After this, Nostalgia brings the fullness and floor-filler chaos, for a musical joy loaded with lyrical wonder and images that really let you escape to somewhere new. Once again, the track is incredibly recognisable, yet still awesomely in keeping with the storytelling voice and musical prowess of A Speck Of Light.
The curtain call is fitting but essentially leaves us keen to head back to the start. A dinner-time album, a long commute accompaniment, or something to draw a crowd at some glowing day festival – A Speck Of Light is a fine collection of conceptually coordinated original songs, and the journey comes to a beautifully soothing finish, with darkness and comfort carefully combined – and a sensational crescendo of a final quarter – for the aptly-titled Lullaby at the end of the world.
In everything from the supreme writing to the hooks, the instrumental sound-play and design, the flawlessly likable vocals – A Speck Of Light naturally finds itself in keeping with the likes of phenomenal projects from Fleetwood Mac, The Handsome Family, and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Also featuring guitarist Alex Duarte (Venezuelan, living in Argentina) and bass player/keyboardist/Dobro player Per Solgaard (Denmark), the musicianship is calming and colourful but precise and skilful, and the anthems at bay, the contemplations, all make for a fascinating and uplifting journey.
Rasmus Fynbo celebrates perhaps the masterpiece of his career with this album, a real-time Speck of Light in an otherwise dark and uncertain world.
Find Rasmus Fynbo on Facebook, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Instagram & his Website.
