"girl" by Euan Blackman
Review
Out today is the latest Euan Blackman single "girl" (that would be his use of lower case not mine!) on Ripe Records.
He describes it as "kicking off a new era" though I think my reviews of his acclaimed EP ‘Thunderstorms' (and its component singles) have shown that he's been evolving into a new style for a little while now.
When I say "acclaimed" I am referring to critics as well as fans which is impressive (lots of people are becoming aware of him and his music, not just in magazines but national BBC stations too), though the consensus adjective (still) seems to be "introspective".
Well that sort of approach & his yen for nostalgic sounds seem to be Euan's defining characteristics as a musician and frankly I like artists who stick to the true articulation of their personality and values rather than chasing cheap fame: in fact a strong brand is pretty helpful in making one's mark.
However I don't find much introspection in "girl": it's his most direct & upbeat pop song to date and certainly lives up to his feeling that this is a milestone release. It of course doesn't at all preclude a return to introspection whenever he feels like it in the future.
This greater directness was a strand I found in the last few songs and while I praised the wispy and semi-buried vocals of his early singles, too much of one style, especially one which by its nature restricts access, is not the best long term strategy. This latest approach lets us in further as well as offering variety.
It's a breezy jaunty single and not especially suited to being played on "rainy road trips" as his previous work was. Even the cover photo (by Stu Price) is a change from the blurred, indistinct images he's used before. Check out too the backing vocals courtesy of Olivia Rebel.
With his single "NOTHING2U" Euan took the line that it was "…music designed to be turned up loud" and this fits the same design model. The "alt folk for kind folk" mission may still be in place: I'm sure that "girl" is intended for the ears of kind listeners, though the obvious folk sound is less to the fore.
We are definitely entering an era when Euan Blackman songs can be readily danced to. I spoke of his finding a "pop sensibility" in relation to the title track of ‘Thunderstorms' and this is presumably the key to this new chapter. It's not a paradigm shift as he's been edging this way for some time & I am confident that he'll bring his fanbase & critical friends along with him without the loss of folk purists (who can at their most extreme by a pretty stern lot): let's face it, he's carried me with him & I wish him very well with what has the attributes to being his commercial breakthrough.
