Rhodes – Wishes
Autumn this year sees the release of Wishes, the debut album from Rhodes (David Rhodes’ stage name), the latest British singer-songwriter to make his mark on the musical mainstream. After a year that consisted of his first solo headline tour in the UK, numerous ventures supporting well-established artists (including Sam Smith and London Grammar) and a session at Glastonbury, 2015 sees him embark on a new chapter of his musical voyages.
Right from the start with Intro, Rhodes’ folk backdrop shines, with pristine but intense reverb and delay, resembling the enchanting qualities of Josh Record or Ben Howard. He stays loyal to an ambient feel throughout the album, resulting in airy but rousing music from the feathery falsetto and silky guitar of Losing It, to a teary-eyed cover of Taylor Swift’s Blank Space.
The emotional depth that Rhodes conveys through his hazy vocal tone is further enhanced by an atmosphere of grandeur that comes from dramatic swirls of texture. On one hand, his stirring rich voice in tracks like Close Your Eyes and Wishes is opulently scored with great harmonies from the backing chorus, while the heroic sweep in Somebody is achieved by a mass choral melody and spacious synths that fill out the audible universe; both are powerful enough to fill a stadium with deep sonorities of harmony and emotion. While his music seldom builds in pace, Turning Back Around provides a bright contrasting chapter to the album, captivating listeners with a simple driving guitar and drumbeat.
The enthralling musical world of Wishes sits neatly between two camps: it is fitting for moments of reflection and tranquillity, and at times grabs the listener’s attention in the blink of an eye with spells of sonic and emotional euphoria. For his debut album, Rhodes instills a breath of fresh air, bringing to life a body of inspiring music with a crystalline quality.
Isaku Takahashi
Wishes is released on 18th September 2015, for further information or to pre-order the album visit here.
Watch the video for Close Your Eyes here:
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