Let’s be honest, there’s a specific type of musician out there who genuinely sounds like they believe rock and roll has all the answers to the world’s problems.
But I don’t mean the huge political, or economic kind of problems. We’re talking about more personal ones. The sort of problems that involve regret, wasted time, things you should have done and then the dawning realization that life moves way too fast once you’ve crossed the threshold of twenty-something. This is exactly the kind of musician that 4fro Nick sounds like he is.
His newest release consists of two tracks that sound like they were fished from a bin of dusty records, which isn’t a bad thing at all. They were dug up for a reason, after all, and what you hear is two songs that embrace the authenticity of sounding “lived in”.
The first song on the EP is called “Don’t Waste My Time (LA Mix)” and that song can easily be deemed the emotional core of the whole release. It’s anchored by expressive singing and strong guitar lines that are just as good at knowing when to play louder as they are at knowing when to fall back into the background. The overall theme is that of one’s valuable time and a growing inability to spend it on meaningless endeavors, a subject, it turns out, most adults eventually need to learn over and over again.
You get everything from indie rock elements to some very smooth soul and psychedelic sounds thrown into one seamless blend, and that all works with an amazing contribution from Grammys winner, pianist Leo Genovese. Drummer Johnny Radelat and bassist George Athanas form a cohesive unit, creating an impeccable, smooth groove which is all so perfectly in time it can’t help but remind you how much better music is when people are just playing together.
I know that shouldn’t be high praise in the modern day and age but here we are.
The B-side, “Get There Before Noon (LA2 Mix),” is built around a similar kind of idea but instead of focusing on past time you’ve lost, it encourages you to utilize your current time to achieve all of your goals before it is too late. If this song were being made by just anyone, it could easily become an overly preachy ballad, but with 4fro Nick, you feel like it’s honest advice from an older brother or best friend who’s done made all their mistakes and knows what they’re talking about.
Both of these songs bring out a similar sound and feel as something that you might hear on a Father of Peace concert, with soulful rock music combined with psychedelic undertones, direct, heartfelt emotion and the mature wisdom that comes from experience. However, this is not to say that the sound is an imitation, as it shares the same genetic code with an artist like that who has a reputation for making honest, human, music over any trendy or superficial kind of sound.
In a time and place where a good portion of the music being produced is crafted solely for attention spans of seconds and algorithm driven playlists, 4fro Nick’s release will come as a welcome sound of authenticity; a set of two songs that have the patience to be heard. A band, or in this case a lone artist, who still trusts the listener to just sit and enjoy what they are listening to, and isn’t that what music should be about in the end?
The limited edition 7-inch pressing also really adds to the entire experience, the whole package feels very classic and the songs definitely do not sound like something you would put on while just glancing at your phone screen. This is music meant to be listened to, so forget about any and all digital convenience and imagine what that actually sounds like! Two songs, no tricks, and no manufactured pop nonsense. Just pure, human, heartfelt, and skilled songwriting.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for various publications around the world, the former lead writer of review blogspace Atop The Treehouse and content creator for Manila Bulletin.
