Boulder, Colorado-based artist Robert Jordan draws on Plato’s allegory of the cave for “Plato’s Cave,” a philosophically minded single from his album Morning Sun. Recorded with multi-instrumentalist David Snider performing all instrumental parts, the track pairs its call toward reason and personal enlightenment with Jordan’s interest in making thoughtful lyrical ideas accessible through rock songwriting.
Vibrant guitar strums and steady rhythms drive quickly into a memorable vocal introspection, exuding guidance and wit throughout. “Go and find a book, open up and have a look,” Jordan’s vocals beckon, encouraging “Don’t be afraid of the light / You don’t have to live in the night.” An added backing vocal delights here, as well. The direct messaging to emerge from darkness and into knowledge and subsequent freedom is impactful: “Come out of Plato’s cave / Use the reason he gave.” Further encouragements to leave your room, and go out into nature for a walk, expands beyond literary suggestions and into worldly expanses.
The three-minute turn is particularly compelling, as trickling guitar additions meld with an impactful “pure idea…” vocal sequence, examining justice, harmony, truth, courage, and beyond, capturing how personal enlightenment to lead toward positive growth and attainment of such virtues. The vocal work here is hypnotic as grooving bass, frolicking piano, and playful rhythms strut a Latin pop feeling, reminiscent of Os Mutantes. Insightful and melodic, “Plato’s Cave” is an affecting single from Robert Jordan.
Stream the rest of Morning Sun:
—
This 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.
