Hi Pal,
Welcome to another review where I tell you how I feel about a specific album or EP release. We will check out Even In The Darkest Night by Braden Drake in today's edition.
In every calendar year for the past four years, it’s become a recurring theme for me to stumble across a random recommendation on my playlists that makes a lasting impression on me. I don’t know much about Braden Drake, but his new EP, Even In The Darkest Night is a fascinating listen.
An upbeat bass line and bright keys usher us into “Even In The Darkest Night”, the title track of the project. As the opener, it does a good job of setting the mood. Drake kicks off singing on his lower register before switching to his higher register in the second half of the first verse. This seemingly insignificant touch, alongside catchy instrumentation and the ethereal synths that permeates the entire tune, brings a neo-psychedelic feel to the song.
“Passionately” is a song of celebration of the love of Jesus and the importance of his words and work for us. It’s a groovy indie pop song that continues the trend of infusing trace elements of psychedelia in its sonic framework. “Time And Time Again” is my favourite song on the EP. The lyrics are quite moving as Drake sings:
…holding on to the man of sorrows
Jesus take my pain away
Time and time again
I get lost inside my head
But no matter what goes on in there
Jesus you always, always care…
Like all the songs before it, there is an underlying happiness to this tune. Yet, because of the weight of the subject discussed here, I am impressed by the way Drake manages to preserve the emotional core of the song amidst the joyful instrumentation. The end product is a bittersweet listening experience that captures the themes perfectly.
“All My Heart” is an indie rock tune about commitment to Christ irrespective of feelings and failures. It’s about finishing strong and it’s quite rare to find a song addressing this subject to be so danceable and fun. “It Was You” ends this journey to an end and it shares many structural similarities with the title track — groovy bass, delicious keys, infectious guitar licks and Drake’s compelling voice. However, the standout in this song — and perhaps the entire EP — is the instrumental outro. It’s a progressive section that gets better with every loop as the lead guitar introduces a new lick until the song fades.
One of the reasons I love reviewing EPs is that it’s quite easy for me to tell when they are good and when they are not. With albums, because of the increase in the number of tracks, things tend to get more nuanced. For Even In The Darkest Night, the word ‘good’ feels like a bit of a disservice because there are so many interesting things that Braden Drake does here, and for the most part, they work pretty well.
Yet, the biggest compliment I can pay this project is not the instrumental process or song-crafting but the potency of the lyrics. Braden Drake’s music reflects a love for Jesus that is palpable and contagious. I can’t wait to hear what he does next.
Genre(s): Indie Pop, Psychedelic Pop, Pop Rock
RATING
: 4/5
Listen Here:
Connect with Braden Drake:
That’s it for today.
Catch you soon!
Talk to me about your favourite songs on the album. Also, let me know of any other albums or EPs you’d like me to review.
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