Shadows and Lies, the sophomore album from North London composer Rob Fairweather’s project FellowFeel, is an evocative exploration of perception and fractured truths. Inspired by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, the record weaves Bernard Herrmann-esque orchestral tension with electronic noir, grounding its eclectic chamber-pop sophistication in deep, cinematic layers of analog synths and strings that range from vibrant to haunting.
The album awakens with “The First Sunrise,” exuding a grandiose sense as lavish strings ring out with cinematic immersion. The second half ups the intensity as a blaring, ardent string procession takes hold, achieving a soaring enthrallment that closes into a delicate lushness. The album’s title track follows, consuming in its interplay of twinkling keys and frolicking strings — setting up a soundscape fit for a fantasy world, tropical and green. The imaginative, exuberant opening finds a debonair appeal as steady rhythms and buzzing synths emerge, adding a modern tint to the initial chamber-pop sophistication. The album is an eclectic tour-de-force, and its title track is particularly exemplary of the magnetic melodic drives and striking shifts within.
Another standout track, “Stir Crazy” builds with effervescent momentum as glistening keys become bolstered by a pulsating rhythmic charm, later incorporating wordless vocal harmonies and jazzy piano tones — and accomplishing a thoroughly captivating infectiousness as a result. In the more heartrending spectrum, “The Long Way Home” fondly resembles a Danny Elfman score in its plucky intrigue, intertwining with strings for a chilly delectability. “I’m Mad As Hell (And I’m Not Gonna Take It Anymore)” also delights in its balance of rock guitars and heart-tugging strings, while album finale “Eyes That Saw The Light” maintains a bursting charisma propelled by strings and bass, excelling in both its understated beginnings and expansive layering. Shadows and Lies is a grippingly memorable success from FellowFeel.
Stream the album below via Bandcamp, and also check it out on Spotify and YouTube:
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“Dead Drop” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
