An Album Release That Takes The Cake
Listen y’all. Some great folks put out some GREAT MUSIC this past April. Like- amazing music. Refer back to my last article to dig deep, but musicians like Spiller, Square Loop and solo musicians Robert X. Newman, Ashley Mayorquin and Ryan Yingst. Each offering something individual, special and creative. I needed an entire article to speak about this album release, and once you listen, you’ll know why.
THE HELLO STRANGER
ALBUM RELEASE:
DOVES, DAISIES AND MEANING
The Hello Stranger is comprised of Singer/Songwriter extraordinaire, Charles Perrone. This album caught my eye because besides hearing “Playing With the Moon” once in his apartment as a demo, I had never heard his music. I knew he recorded a lot of music, all all hours of the day, silently making magic in his laboratory. I would often accidentally open the door to his recording studio thinking he was sleeping looking for a space heater (Chicago’s cold, ya’ll), or a iPhone cable, but had never delved deep in his music. Boy-oh-BOY-do I regret not diving head first months ago. The Hello Stranger had a few things up on Spotify, but this album is his first 2020 release, and I can not get it out of my head. Just by playing it aloud, I have gotten my boyfriend hooked, my parents, and my friends, and now I will infiltrate your BRAIN and get you hooked on The Hello Stranger.
Charlie walks and talks the life of a musician. Extremely enjoyable, quietly confident, and full of colors and thought; Charlie is just like his music. Each song explores a new full-bodied harmony that creeps up on you and does the opposite of haunt. Unless that would be hauntingly beautiful. I went back to listen again to a few songs because I realized I had gotten myself lost in thought and missed actually listening to a few. That’s why these songs are so special, they take you to a place, far deep inside your brain and create new thoughts and waves, or touch the parts where the best and oldest memories are stored. Either way, if they are new thoughts or old, they will be trance-like; gorgeous and familiar. I have a few favorites from this album, including “Playing Games with the Moon” and “Doves, Daisies and Meaning,” but all songs are well written, special, and worth the listen. It’s not often a full album interests me the entire way through and thats why you have to stop and take a moment to really appreciate them when they do. Charlie is not a one hit wonder.
I will say, I get to hear my best friend’s voice (Jackie Smook) on “Playing Games With the Moon”, so obviously I am going to love it, and it quickly became a repeatable. With that being said- this song is also special to me because I got to be in the house while it was being recorded. This past January, I lived in Chicago with Charlie, Mina, and the crew. One night while I was cooking up some Pad See Ew (yum-yum), Jackie came over to put her vocals over this song, which from the next room over sounded so indescribably cool: soaring, haunting, and edgy. That night, we got to hear the first demo of their vocals blended and I fell in love with the music and musicianship that is The Hello Stranger.
My other favorite, which will quickly become one of yours is “Doves, Daisies and Meaning”. Being the title of the album , I knew it had to be special, but what came to pass was something far exceeding that expectation. I had it on repeat-no lie- for twenty minutes, getting lost somewhere between the beginning and end. The first minute and a half of this song is just beautiful, chill, instrumental music, very european vibes; like walking thru France on a beautiful sunny day with no cares or worries. His vocals finally break thru at 1:53 with lyrics that my Songwriting Berklee Album best friend and college roommate, Gari, would describe as, “so fricken good…I can’t.” The song builds in orchestrations when in comes my favorite moment at 2:30. Let me tell you. It’s worth the wait. Every. Single. Time. My Dad taught me about the appreciation in patience in music- and this has it. What I mean by that is- an artist with the control and intelligence to let their music take it’s time. Like with a good actor and knowing when to pause, this song has that same honed in craft. It is musical writing genius. Beauty. Essence. As it grows- alluring choruses meet full bodied string orchestras. If you weren’t already walking inside of your own movie, this section plunges you into the screen where flowers and France grows around you like in a dream. All of a sudden you’re riding bareback to your lover through fields of flowers….. weird. But you get it. Or you will. Or you SHOULD when you go and listen to this. As soon as the wave of emotions fully overtakes you, the song slows down to a stop and finishes similarly to where it started in music, but somehow you will feel completely changed. So- you press play again, hoping for the dream to never end. If the riding bareback didn’t get you to listen to this track, I hope you trust my word that this is a tune not to be missed.
What I like so much about The Hello Stranger is his ever-changing sound under the same blanket. His voice has so many different tones and shifts and people in a way. In “Erased America” he starts off sounding like Elliott Smith and somewhere along the way he transforms into Stephen Malkmus from Pavement. My boyfriend literally said, “WAIT! WHO IS THIS,” and immediately sent it to two friends. Even the backing instruments are reminiscent of some later pavement.
FFO: Elliot Smith, Steven Malkmus (Pavement)
The Hello Stranger is up and coming and when he arrives at the top of the scene you will want to say you had known him first. I cannot wait for you all to listen to it, and tell me what you think. Where did it take you? What was the journey like? What was your favorite track? ….did you enjoy riding bareback?
All I know is- the album is a wild ride not to be missed. And you need it. I see you quarantined in your box apartment, wearing the same leggings you put on yesterday. I see you. You need this.
Find The Hello Stranger on streaming services near you. Make sure to give him his earlier stuff a listen as well, it’s pure epic-ness. Run to bandcamp and shower him with love and buy his tracks. In a world where we can’t perform live- we have to stay alive.
Thanks for reading! I hope you give The Hello Stranger a listen and all of the amazing musicians on my playlist, New Music You Should Be Listening To While Hibernating.
If you enjoy The Hello Stranger, or the playlist, I hope you will share and leave a comment below! What are your favorite tracks? AS ALWAYS- if you are/ or know of/ an artist that has recently released amazing music- DON’T LET ME OVERLOOK IT. Leave a comment below or DM me on my Instagram @autumnelizasheffy.
Thanks for reading. Stay safe, and sane.