Review: The Straw 1 by Indie Soull

It wasn't long ago that I have the pleasure of reviewing Indie Soull's album The Book Of Angels, and the prolific singer-songwriter is continuing his quick output with a new record called The Straw. There's a stripped bare acoustic version of the record already available, but ahead of the full album's release I've been privy to the full production version of the track The Straw 1. Following from the same creative flow as his previous records, The Straw 1 is a short, sweet and perfectly formed piece of acoustic song-writing that brilliantly captures everything that makes Indie Soull such a great artist.

I talked previously about how Indie Soull combines his influences together so comfortably, retaining a lot of his own personality in his song-writing. The Straw 1 definitely continues in this vein, but with an increasingly deft touch that brings to mind Simon & Garfunkel's mastery of the acoustic song. There's a purity to the melancholy of The Straw 1 that evokes sombre, sorrowful tones with the upbeat and thoughtful style that Paul & Art were so proficient at.

The tune itself has a slight indebtment to folk and country with a breazy soft-jazz slant too, but it avoids the trap of being too saccharine or too rootsy, finding a really nice balance between the two. There's a strong rhythmic melody that evokes a number of songs from Bookends. Instrumentally, the acoustic guitar takes the lead and combines perfectly with the jaunty, up-beat piano, while the percussion and subtle bass playing provide a rich emphasis to the melody.

Vocally, Indie Soull once again produces a performance that is both emotional and catchy with a faltering, breathy timbre reminiscent of Damien Rice's beautiful, understated dynamism. There's a certain robustness that sits behind this fragility too, and it gives the vocal performance a natural depth without having to resort to wild fluctuations or overly technical runs. Lyrically the song hits the right balance of metaphor and directness, using the minimal imagery of landscapes, flora and fauna to counterpoint the forthright theme of regret and the desire to return to something, or someone.

Even at a mere two minutes long, The Straw 1 might just be the best song Indie Soull has written thus far, though with the wealth of material already in his discography that's a tough judgement to make. What is undoubtedly true is that Indie Soull continues to be an excellent purveyor of songs that hook you in not just on the addictiveness of the tune and the quality of the performance, but in the captivating emotion that is behind them.

Listen to Indie Soull's music, including an acoustic version of The Straw, on Spotify

You can follow Indie Soull on Twitter and Instagram

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