The vibe set by this single is, from the offset, gorgeously in keeping with that implied by the title. Thoughts of the surf life bring about feelings of contentment, the simple things in life; blue skies, soft sand, clear seas. The concept of the blues thrown in adds a touch of melancholy or reflective musicianship, and even just with the opening electric guitar riff – these two elements meet quite perfectly.
For the most part, the blues element is far from the forefront of the single. The hook brings with it a certain sadness, a difficulty or struggle, and this contrasts notably with the verses. However, the general ambiance that you focus upon is this laid back, organic soundscape, with the leading vocalist’s smooth tones gently guiding you through the imagery. The change from verse to hook seems quite drastic in hindsight, but it works really well, and it makes for something quite unique.
Surfer Blues is a fairly epic audio experience when you really focus in on the details. The music builds from something initially fairly mellow, into something that is much more emotionally loaded and passionate – complete with chaotic drums and a freely wandering guitar solo. The story line follows a similar pathway, lulling you at first into a perhaps false sense of comfort, before bringing in the turmoil, the hard times, the realness and grit. It’s not something that takes away from the enjoyable nature of the music at all, on the contrary – it makes it all the more interesting. The song has the brightness of an indie-pop classic and the reflective depth of a traditional folk or singer-songwriter sentiment, and it turns out – that’s a worthy and memorable combination.
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