Album review: Qualms of being - shannon luke

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REVIEW OF SHANNON LUKE’S EP RELEASE “QUALMS OF BEING”
BY FARID LONG

TRACKS
1. SIGNIFIED
2. IN PARADISE LOST
3. FAREWELL IN EURASIAN HOUSE
4. PRICELESS
5. ANOTHER EVENING
6. BRILLIANT BY THE SANDS

Qualms of Being is a collection of songs of songs that borders on the avant garde. New and fresh sounding at times, warm and all enveloping in others. Easy on the ears, the tracks transport the listener to, essentially where they would like to be.

The opening track “Signified” opens with a reverse style intro that reminds listeners of a time when much was put into the art of back masking. This then blends smoothly into the cascading guitar riffs before the syncopated rhythm kicks in. Signified is a quaint opener of a track that leaves listeners interested and ready for more.

The second song “In Paradise Lost” continues in the same vein.

“Farewell in a Eurasian House” is an instrumental piece then once again feature’s Luke’s beautiful melodies as a backdrop. A diminutive table adds to the sparse feel in the rhythm. It goes wide open from here. The wonderful thing about instrumentals is that you can really interpret it anyway you want.

The guitar riffs are beautiful melodies instead of outright riffs. Luke’s use of delay and having slight variations in these melodic riffs keeps the tunes intriguing.

“Priceless” is even more stripped down. The melodies intertwine without a rhythm track.

“Another Evening” features some intriguing sampling and is perhaps the most rocking track of the album.

The album closes with “Brilliant by the Sands”, another up tempo number that cements Luke’s signature style of building layers of melodic instrumental soundscape combined with a minimalistic vocal style.

Luke’s laid back easy vocal style reminds me of Julian Lennon.

The album needs repeated listening to the listener to fully appreciate the beauty, inventiveness and musical colours of the tracks.

Highly recommended. Check it out!
 
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