MP3: Angelo De Augustine – “Black Wool”

For many, music provides a source of light during dark times. Getting lost in lyrics, a melody, or any aspect of a song can help take our minds off life’s issues, which can range wildly in severity. Those fortunate to experience only first-world problems can only begin to imagine being homeless or starving, much less without a reliable source of music. When Angelo De Augustine wrote his first album, Black Wool, in 2010, he was living in an abandoned house in the Arrowhead Mountains with his mom, cat, and dog. Though a roof was over his head, he was essentially homeless, and without a foreseeable direction. But that didn’t ever make life entirely depressing; he always considered his “small family be his muse and faithful listeners.” De Augustine and family were able to get back on their feet, partly due to his music being discovered by a few friendly sources, and he is now currently working on a new album in New York City. It’s an interesting story, with some very interesting tunes to accompany it.

The self-titled track on Black Wool is nicely representative of De Augustine’s chops as a songwriter, well beyond his years in the ability to craft a cohesive pop hook. The track begins and keeps up with accessible snares that remain in the background; a dopey bass buzz comprises the up-front melody before guitars add some more flavor. The chorus, where De Augustine repeats “very far” over rusty keys and delicate guitars, is a nice touch. The verses, “black wool, it fits me just right,” earn memorable appearances as well. “Child of The Sun (Hospital 1)” is a more beautiful spectacle, with an acoustic approach that really shows off De Augustine’s vocal talents. They soar on a highly serene path, with a ghostly croon slightly reminiscent of How to Dress Well’s Tom Krell. Think “Cold Nites” without the electronic edge, and a slightly less daring approach. De Augustine’s music follows the more conventional pop route, and is more bubbly and romantic as a result. But his music remains beautiful and inventive nonetheless, without the clichés many songwriters twice his age fall victim to.

MP3: Angelo De Augustine – “Child of The Sun (Hospital 1″)

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