Niels H - Better Alone
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Ft. Katie Johnson, Joey Howard.
The album begins with "Better Alone"
An action-packed piece of art, "Better Alone" is the perfect introduction track to the album. Displaying a strong, stable structure within the mood changes brought by the heavy, distorted guitar and fast switches to light hearted styles. The smooth vocals are sometimes a little hidden behind the instrumentation, however this doesn't take anything away from it's glory.
The track smoothly transitions into "All You've Got"
Musically, this song feels like something from an early Arctic Monkeys album, with fast paced electric guitar and heavy percussion creating a perfect early 2000's Indie Rock soundscape. The vocals hold a jazzy, bluesy feel, proving the artist's willingness to experiment with different styles and genres, and creating a unique sound by doing so.
The next song is "Let You Go"
Effected vocals echo and build as menacing guitars rage on. It’s boldly assertive and aggressively refreshing... Certain sections of tranquillity seem to take inspiration from Queen, with upbeat, happy elements, before tumbling straight back into the heavy style.
The 4th song, is what the album is named after... "Orange Purple Skies"
The guitar is what immediately catches your attention from the get go, with what sounds like crybaby wah, or clever volume pedal use, as the vocals are introduced to the track. Between the lyrics, a distinct guitar riff takes the center stage. It definitely has the potential to become a "classic" riff in the rock world.
One track that really caught my attention was "Space In Between"
Slightly moving away from the aforementioned 2000's Indie sound, like "Say My Name", this track allows the singer to take more of the spotlight. The vocals are layered in certain parts of the rhythmic lyrics, adding depth and creativity to the track.
The 8th track "Wonderland" holds a similar structure to the aforementioned track, "Orange Purple Skies". Especially with the use of twangy crybaby guitar and slap bass. After the intro, the song explodes with colour for a moment, before moving back to a gentle and minimalist pace. It’s certainly the most diverse song on the album, employing much more technical, complex aspects.
The track that caters to rock fans the most, would definitely be "Me 4 Me"
At 5 minutes long, it's as long as a classic Verve or Richard Ashcroft song.. the instrumentation varies throughout and includes some incredibly fast drum beats and licks, sometimes seeming to take inspiration from Queen like in "Let You Go".
As the album comes to an end, the 2nd-to-last song, "Maybe Tomorrow" is showcased.
The thumping drums, the riffs and the plunge into the verses make every beat seemingly more meaningful than the last for this track that expands and becomes more adventurous as it goes on. It’s snappy, original, and instantly memorable, even in a market flooding with post-pandemic pop.
Some of the sounds have clear roots in classic rock, particularly the ever present sparkling riff which is unrelenting throughout. The real genius in the sound, though, is how they have taken this and wrapped it in a distinctly 60's/70's sound, and with it created a mini masterpiece. Building to a crescendo, dropping out, and building again multiple times; it has a real sense of well thought structure, whilst simultaneously maintaining the rawness that gives it such charm.
The final track is,
The feel of this song feels particularly complex, and at times leaves you wondering what to pigeon hole their sound as, but there’s no time or need to, as you will continue to marvel at it for what it brings you to. Although it's a more laid back track than the rest of the album, it leaves your head bopping and longing for more music from Niels H and the featuring artists. It carries a wide variety of styles that were showcased in previous songs, such as subtle hints to the wah guitar, and Queen style tranquil sections. The album would be a perfect introduction to people who aren't yet fans of rock and indie music, as it isn't too heavy and instilled, and it also isn't too modern. There's something for everyone in Orange Purple Skies.
Check the album out here!
