"Another Sunset" by Caleb Murray

Today Caleb Murray releases his new single, "Another Sunset" a year & a half after his previous record, the ‘Stories From a Sunny Side' album which we reviewed in July 2019: just before his really well received performance on the Main Stage of what remains the most recent Godiva Festival.

During the intervening months, Caleb has certainly evolved his craft it would seem. "Another Sunset" (created like so much else currently) at home, although clearly linked to his previous work  in terms of clarity & simplicity generating particular effect, however showcases a more processed sonic picture. In fact Caleb tells me that it is a conscious attempt to move his sound forwards without losing his roots.  Necessarily, he could not assemble his band (George Morton on bass and Ben Painter on drums) for a recording session & so this is a wholly self written, performed, recorded & produced song: I imagine once circumstances allow & the band can reconvene, we shall see further movement in this direction & fuller arrangements.

What we get in the meantime with "Another Sunset" is a side of Caleb he occasionally reveals: possibly less often of late as he has gone more for upbeat tunes & narratives, and that is of the contemplative & reflective dreamer.

Accordingly, the track is a dreamscape format with hypnotic guitars meshing together, instrumental breaks to savour the words in and lyrics which are poetic in their ambition. Ideas of melancholy, regret & the inexorably passage of time weave together to produce a range of messages: some it would seem directed at a particular individual, yet flexible enough to appear to be talking to us all. Am I alone in perceiving that the song seems also to be recounting how day after day is passing at the moment as we get lost in time passing without the ability to address what we long to address? Possibly: but it doesn't really matter as all my opinion really goes to show perhaps is that Caleb has the ability to write lyrics which make different impressions on each listener: which is a hallmark of good, mature writing. Above all, the decision to offer us his vocals in the way he does on "Another Sunset" adds to the overall effect: they seem more detached & objective, sitting just outside the concrete world in one of thought & feeling and this in turn adds to the poignancy and to the sense that he's addressing us more is sadness than anger: a little of the tone of "Same Old Ends" from his album too maybe.

Roll on more like this.