Since the release of his 2013 EP, Berlin, fans all over the world have been begging for more from the Australian-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Ry X. When he unveiled the singles Only and Deliverance at the beginning of 2016, the anticipation for his debut album grew even stronger. Now Dawn is finally here, allowing us to soak in a full-length document of Ry Cuming’s ethereal vocal delivery and tactful string-play.
The title track starts things off, a ghostly soundscape that acts as an ideal preface for the 12 track release. Orchestral brass fills the song, enticing you towards what’s to come. Earlier releases Shortline, Howling and Berlin are included, but the former of the three has been significantly enriched. A heavy bassline – aloof for much of the 2013 edition – asphyxiates you right from the outset. To accommodate, the wistful guitar riff that opens the Berlin version doesn’t enter until midway through.
Howling is poignant but pulsating and remains an all-encompassing acme of Cuming’s work. It’s the standout track, led by an electronic drum kit that takes you on an otherworldly journey. Berlin is an absorbing exploration with gentle acoustics and wordless vocals to soothe you to sleep.
Many of the tracks begin softly before rising to a climactic conclusion, and Beacon is the starkest example of that. A string ensemble joins the drums and keyboards to overtake the acoustics, producing a levitating resonance. Haste is an accelerating voyage into longing, exhibiting all of Cuming’s electronic knowhow. Dawn is everything we’ve come to love about Ry X, but refined into an exhilarating ride.
BY TOM PARKER
