Surely, if you listen to music, there’s a good chance that you’re aware of all the different subtypes of music that exists. You could go from one end of the spectrum with dark metal, to the other end of the spectrum with experimental ambience. A lot of these genres inbetween do not really get explored or expanded upon, as most artists tend to stick to the failsafe of commercialism. The act in today’s review goes beyond expected norms, by establishing a soundscape that is essentially quite dreamy.
B.D. Reeves, a songwriter and novelist based in Melbourne, is no stranger to the world of melancholy and dreaminess. His style of music blends indie beats with ethereal vocals and ‘journey-based’ lyrics to choric hooks. He does not like to let his audience fall prey to the tune of predictability, as he also likes to infuse musical surprises into his songs as well.
His recent releases include his debut EP, ‘Contradictions’, as well as a Young Adult literature novel titled ‘Jemma and the Raven’. It is quite refreshing to see someone dabbling in both music and the literary arts, as all forms of art should be explored. No one should limit themselves to simply one form of expression- the sky is never the limit.
In this review, we will explore the wonderful world of his latest release, titled ‘All the Worlds’. ‘All the Worlds’ is described as a song that gives expression to the feeling of reawakening and expansion after living through one of the longest city lockdowns in Melbourne. It also boasts a tentative tremolo that depicts imagery of widening to a vast mountainous terrain of open starry nights and replenishing rain, layered in mingling airy tones releasing to an echoing chorus. Paying homage to Sigur Ros in its stylistic references, the song is ‘a sonic affirmation of life itself’.
My only critique of the song is the groove of the percussion and the vocalist’s voice. The percussion sounds a little too generic for an indie beat, to the point where I think a little bit of innovation would’ve helped. The vocalist’s voice is in tune, and melodic, but gets drowned out in the midst of the rest of the instruments. Perhaps this was an intentional stylistic move, as it does generally fit with the theme of the song.
Otherwise, all the instruments in this track are very well mastered, and a lot of thought was put in the main melodic sequence of this track- a multi-layered symphony of acoustic and electric string harmony. The nuances are also apparent in the track, with the bass gliding through the track extremely smoothly and supporting the track.
My impression of this song is that it definitely fits the theme, and works as a track. However, given the initial description of the artist, I expected a little bit more creativity and spontaneity with the structure of the song and the vocal techniques used. Given that this is my first impression of the artist, this is a great start.
May ‘All the Worlds’ remind of the wonderful reawakening of life and our sensibilities as we’d emerged from one of the darkest periods in recent human history. With the age of information and the rate of refreshment increasing every single day, it’s easy to forget the feelings associated with that time period. I will say, this song helped me to reflect and remind myself of certain thoughts that I’d kept in the recesses of my brain. That’s what good music does- spark something that you think you’ve lost.
Score/Good: ‘All the Worlds’ is a wonderful quilt of delightful sounds that pay homage to the reawakening of our sensibilities after the dark ages of lockdown. It generally has a calming thematic soundscape that can appeal to most, but a tiny oomph of creativity would’ve definitely elevated the song. Still, a decent listen.
[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]
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