ARTIST REVIEW: JACK GARRATT

It looks like Jack Garratt is going to have an exciting year following the release of his single 'Worry'. With endorsement from the likes of Zane Lowe, this humble guy from a little village in Buckinghamshire is headed for things he'd never expected.

The idea of a one-man band is often thought of as more of a circus act than something that would book out Wembley. However, since the success of Ed Sheeran (with his loop station) one-man bands are really making it. Jack Garratt is a perfect example of this. Usually seen on stage drumstick in hand, fingers on the keyboard, guitar round neck and singing, he manages to create as much sound as a rock band - which is pretty impressive. Audiences no longer expect a stage full of dancing band members, nowadays an empty stage with a guy, a guitar, and a heck load of wires is far more effective.

Jack Garratt's rock/electronic sound has developed to be soulful through his years of experience and passion. He started writing at 12, his first song got him into the finals of the Great Britain Junior Eurovision Contest. He uploaded his music to BBC Introducing at 17 with his song 'Worry' and explained his musicality (he plays several instruments from guitar, bass, drums and piano to the trombone, African percussion and the mandolin) and commitment to writing and playing. This landed him their support from the start and a spot to perform at the Reading and Leeds Festival last year.

Jack's music is predominantly made of rock/electronic sounds, it is hard to classify him into a genre, he likes to dip his toes from alt-rock to late night R&B to moody-electronic and so on... Jack could typically be compared to Jeff Buckley in some tracks, and the likes of James Blake and Oh Wonder in others. However he does set himself apart with the intense contrasts between his soulful voice as it wavers in falsetto against pacey drum beats and clashing electronic sounds from guitar and keyboard. Each track has a different style but surges to the same intensity. The music he produces reflects how he challenges himself and the boundaries of music. I know you'd think that his experimental tendencies could result in some 'iffy' moments, though somehow he manages to balance out just the right amount of interesting ideas to keep me listening to and liking every song.

I think that Jack Garratt is definitely worth a listen, he seems to be so invested in his music and it really is beautiful to hear him progress from track to track. I'd love to hear more about his influences. I'm also very interested to see when it all blows up into something amazing for him.

SPOTIFY - https://play.spotify.com/artist/1Zp054Jc86WVKCxKEqZGOA

ALBUM REVIEW: DARK EYES - HALF MOON RUN

So here we go, my first review on this blog!

One of the main reasons why I love this album, Dark Eyes, is because of the variation between each track as they explore the indie folk and alt-rock genres. This isn't one of those albums that repeats the same sound and style for every song. Is it just me, or do those types of albums become laborious to listen to? You almost have to make an effort to differentiate each track. But this album plays with different paces, rhythms, melodies and even instruments to explore different sounds and moods.

Half Moon Run have had a great response to their music so far, especially since their release of this debut album in 2012. They've opened for artists such as Of Monsters and Men, City and Colour, and Mumford & Sons. The first I'd heard of  the Canadian band, was through their song 'Full Circle' (oddly enough, the first listed on their album) a few years ago. I really liked the tone of the song, and how the band uses different vocal lines to create thick harmonies, alongside the delicately moving guitar melodies. Everything seems to fit together as it builds from an acoustic sound to something much more full with added electric guitar parts and pacey drum beats. The lyrics also transform this, they are well-written and seem to have feeling behind them, which is so important in making music sound real. I think that it gives a great opening to the album, and shows a more raw side to the band, which lets you feel a connection with their other tracks too.

 

Another stand out track of their album is 'Call me in the Afternoon'. I think this must be their hit song, as it has a pretty cool music video. More upbeat than the first track, this song has a great drum rhythm - definitely reflecting an alt-rock sound with it's contrasting light and heavy beats. There's much more of a tune to this track, and I love how they've played with the notes and percussion rhythms to accentuate certain words.

'No More Losing the War' is a very emotive track. The lyrics tell a beautifully haunting story with subtle dark phrases giving off a great atmosphere. Definitely worth taking the time to listen to properly. More importantly, who's Karen? Devon Portielje (singer), delves deeply into his emotions to deliver such intensity. This is a skill that progresses into other songs such as 'Need It' and 'Unofferable' which thrive on the sensitivity in his voice.

One of my favourite tracks on this album has to be '21 Gun Salute'. This song brings more of an electronic/house sound, which along with the fast-pace percussion and guitar lines makes a full sound. The lyrics are simple and sung in long phrases, so it doesn't dominate but adds a clean melody on top of the other sounds. This song is amazing to listen to when driving at night - it's so smooth yet complex, and enhances the night time atmosphere.

This band has developed a very noteworthy set of sounds from folk to alt-rock. I'd say that they land on a spectrum between Fleet Foxes and Alt-J. Their music isn't just constructed on hollow chord sequences, it's built on something deeper and this is how they can create an atmosphere through their sound. Definitely worth a listen.

SPOTIFY - https://play.spotify.com/album/1h0JzrOSEyEldBJOBMj9Ge