He’s the man behind the name Hamilton, the guitarist for City Breathing, and one of the main forces behind Roses & Hello, but Arun Antonyraj’s debut solo record isn’t exactly bursting at the seams like his ambitions and involvements in music may suggest. No, as you listen to these sparse yet powerful compositions, it becomes clearer that his first one-man-band effort is more of a subtle skip or a gentle slide into the figurative room of progressively-minded singer songwriters. His first proper EP is equal amounts surprising and calming.
Heavenly guitars glide into the forefront and bubbling keyboards creep from behind to provide a perfect backdrop to the EP’s epic opener “First and Forward Facing.” Breathy vocals swirl through sequential numbers “The Coast is Never Clear” and “No, I Think I’m Fine” with a kind of hesitant confidence that resembles a bright dreamworld with an almost painfully human touch. Hamilton’s approach to the guitar varies from track to track, from organic and crisp to cloudy and soft, but always distributes melodies that dance in the ear with a quaint lovingness.
Faint percussion enters the overlapping guitars in ”I’ll Be Honest, I Didn’t Understand the Talk,” suggesting a world where quietness can be devastating and rich in texture. The five tracks weave in and out with elegance and brightness, captivating the listener without aggravation or attention-seeking. The EP’s denouement “Honest Statements of Intent” wobbles and transcends, bringing a short journey to a close, but making it feel like it was a lengthy and luxurious vacation. Hamilton repeats the line, “it was a yellow light,” and it feels like this meditation on honesty could very well go on forever (and it wouldn’t be that terrible if it did).
- First and Forward Facing (7:18)
- The Coast Is Never Clear (2:47)
- No, I Think I'm Fine (3:30)
- To Be Honest, I Didn't Understand the Talk (3:48)
- Honest Statements of Intent (4:47)
Free complete album downloadMP3 format, 192kbps — iTunes/iPod compatible
Stream a high-quality copy of Are You Saying I'm Still Alive? here:
Get Flash to see this player.