This sublime five-song collection taps into “that secret world of the heart”, according to Ryan Downey, who looks as debonair as a young Bryan Ferry and possesses a voice to match; even when singing f-bombs he sounds dreamy AF and that velvety, beseeching timbre could convince us to do (almost) anything.
Opening lead single Tonight, with its gently strummed waltz rhythm and elongated strings, explores love as the many-splendoured thing it is: “I got lost in your arms tonight/ Thinking crazy thoughts/ About crazier nothings…”
Downey’s a self-confessed “hopeless romantic”, which comes as no surprise: check out this declaration of love during the closing When In Love: “All roads lead to love… Ain’t no satellite, just somethin’ glows in the dark/ When I can make it out, it looks just like you.”
The softly strummed “adult lullaby” Big Zero, which Downey has hilariously described as “a meditation app that doesn’t want your data”, puts listeners in the best kind of trance. Thanks to this song’s cooed, repeated mantras (“How you gonna climb out if you don’t remember climbing in?… How you gonna slow down if you don’t remember speeding up?”), we’re elevated to stratospheres approaching hypnosis.
Solace for overactive minds, Songs For Dreamers is an airborne listening experience and Downey plus the Budapest Art Orchestra’s string section are a match made in heaven. We thoroughly recommend full immersion in this relaxing sonic brain bath; it’ll soothe all that ails you.
LABEL: INDEPENDENT
RELEASE DATE: 3 NOV
