Drift City – Spectral Heart Mosaics
Kentucky-based musical effort, Drift City, plants a promising seed with their latest EP release, Spectral Heart Mosaics. From start to finish, the folk-and-jazz-and-blues-inspired band presents themselves very professionally – the sounds, accurate; the production (see: Kevin Ratterman), thick and palpable. There is a wide variety of instruments utilized throughout the EP, like lulling saxophones and zipping synthesizers. While the songs wrap the listener in a dampening mist of tangible relaxation, the overall feel of this music collection is hopeful, pushing toward self-growth, as well as somewhat spiritual.
The EP opener, “Leave Your Life,” listens like the soundtrack of a mood-lit lazy river. Immediately, one may take note of the vocal delivery, falling somewhere between Iggy Pop crossed with The National. After a brilliant saxophone solo, there is a pleasing shift in feel when the drummer strikes the ride with brushes more consistently, lending to a relaxing, jazzy feel. Song two, “The Seeds” begins with a very sweet and twangy slide guitar too. Drift City frontman and core member, Jason Rivers, lightly sings about the freeness of seeds catching the wind as they travel to their future home. There are also a few powerful vocal runs within the song that deserve attention and warrant replay.
Song three, “Love Is A Lie,” has a drum beat that plays like the slowed version of M. Ward’s “I’m Going Higher.” The song seems to truly soar, eventually landing somewhere between gospel and chugging folk. Featuring a glittery guitar solo and female vocals akin to Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, this song dances between your headphones playfully. Finally, “Feel the Sun” chirps nostalgically about coming-to after having a blissful dream. The aforementioned seedling, after catching the wind, has landed, soaking up the sun. Tambourines are very apparent in this tune, alongside flashes of tingly synth.
Overall, Drift City’s Spectral Heart Mosaics is a wondrous amalgamation of folk and blues that flirts with pop tendencies. The intermittent vocal runs, touching guitar solos, and vast array of woodwind and brass instrumentals create a production that can be described as heartfelt and relatable. The EP is sonically stuffed-to-the-brim with interesting and lush sounds, in addition to audio mixing techniques. Drift City is for fans of Lord Huron, The Blue Nile, and This Mortal Coil. Stream the Spectral Heart Mosaics on Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud.
Categorised in: Album Reviews, New Music
This post was written by Jake Sessanna