Atlanta-based artist Ben Bostick succeeds with a new stylistic venture on Become Other, a riveting album that gravitates away from the Americana sound that defined his earlier work — and into a symphonic, emotive foray of personal storytelling and diverse sonic exploration. Structured in four movements, the album consumes across its memorably melodic sound and artful depictions of struggle, transformation, and renewal.
A gorgeous orchestral swell opens the album on “The Tangle,” which exudes a cinematic-like spell in its range of elegant strings and more bursting rock buzzing. These striking tonal shifts traverse into an ardently poetic vocal disposition, and then a sweeping sense of balladry; the eclectic display is a great showcase of what’s to come throughout Become Other.
The impactful “Heavy Heart” also enthralls in its array of twinkling, understated introspection and rousing anthemic ascents — the latter gripping in the “born with a heavy heart” declaration, as orchestral ruminations also emerge. The album also succeeds in the instrumental realm; “Gntl Hz” weaves bird-chirping with a fairy tale-like ethereality as glistening, plucky instrumentation builds with elegant intrigue. From the piano-led haunts of “Cocoon” to the riveting, theatrical dynamics within “By Darkness Forged,” the rest of Become Other continues to impress with its compelling songwriting and diverse productions.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
