It’s starting to get colder as Australia waves goodbye to summer. Autumn has officially arrived and brought the cloudy, gloomy weather with it. Sometimes, when we are having these depressing rainy days, it’s best just to stay indoors with a playlist to help lift our spirits.
Richard Lomax’s Down There For Dancing would definitely help with that.
My first impression of the Manchester-based muso was, ‘the voice of a Beatle born too late’. He’s done such a good job with the album, especially considering the fact that he produced the entire thing on his own. As more and more people discover his talent, he will be one to watch in the future.
Our journey begins with Glamour, fusing a 60s atmosphere with a modern electronic sound. The quick guitar strums lead on the cool electrified bassline which, paired with Lomax’s interesting voice, will draw you in and have you looking forward of what’s to come.
Throughout the album it’s clear that one of Lomax’s strongest points is his songwriting. There’s a tendency to overload his songs with long struck sentences, chock full of detail that tell stories – stories about relationships and psychedelics, or maybe a relationship with psychedelics? The intricacy and embellished lyrical compositions can really put the listener in Lomax’s shoes.
The overall sound is upbeat throughout most of the album, blending aspects of rock, folk and vintage indie pop in a unique mix. Yes, to some people, they may seem repetitive. That’s only because he uses patterns to create connections between each of the songs. It also gives the final track Wellness a bit more of an emphasis as this is where the upbeat motif stops. It’s more on the mellow side, allowing us to concentrate on the smooth guitar riffs and that voice.
The raw production of the album is an asset to the music. By being less produced, it makes it sound more real and humble. This songs on this album weren’t written just to entertain, but also to share a passion for making music – not something we get to hear every day.
If you like the rustic feel of music made by independent artists, you can listen to, and purchase the album here.