The songwriter lays all his cards bare with his recent release.
In his sixth album, Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson reflects on his multiple losses. His mother passed, his relationship ended, and his longtime drummer left the band, all while he was writing the album. The sentiment is clear in his lyrics and airy vocals, but the gravitas of the themes aren’t entirely present.
Wave kicks off with the recent single ‘Dream For Dreaming’, complete with a solid left piano hand, female backing vocals and electronic wails that fly away in the background. It’s clear Watson keeps motifs from his previous record, Love Songs For Robots, close. After that, it’s all rising with no signs of coming down. Perhaps a brief reprieve on ‘Turn Out The Lights’, but nothing much further.
There is a reason ‘Broken’ was released far earlier than the record, most likely because it’s the track that leaves the most impact. ‘Melody Noir’, another single, is a little more forgettable but still holds its ground as the most upbeat groove on the record.
Soft classical piano, a light rhythm section and sweeping strings make for a pleasant listen. At times, it leaves you unsatisfied, offering up far more ambient ethereality than substance.
While Wave is perfect for a rainy Sunday indoors, Watson continues a serial trend of whimsical tunes that leave us just a little hungry.
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