CASH,BRENT - The New High (Sealed) (CD)

Brent is back. After a five-year-long hiatus, the multi-instrumentalist from Athens, GA (home to R.E.M. and The B-52s, among others), returns with his third and probably best album album yet. Continuing the tradition of his previous, widely celebrated albums „How Will I Know If I’m Awake“ and „How Strange It Seems“, he once again enters melody wonderland – evoking classic pop songwriting from the 60s and 70s – chock-full of sophisticated arrangements, richly textured vocal harmonies and extravagant key changes. It’s proof that pop music is alive and well in 2017. Brent decided to record the album Todd Rundgren-style this time. Each and every instrument is played by the man himself – except for the string section. It adds an earthy edge to his sunshine pop brilliance. The album kickstarts with title track „The New High“, a song that builds and builds until you finally reach, well, the new high („Why does it feel so good?“). „Out For Blood“ recalls The Beach Boys’ „Wild Honey“ period – classy, soulful technicolor vocal harmonies layered upon a great rhythm track. The quirky „The Wrong Thing“ captures the playful pop majesty of Gilbert O’Sullivan. It even features a crazy fiddle. „Careful if you run with me / It’s gonna be a bumpy ride / Heaven disavows the alchemy...“ „Every Inflection“ is pure pop heaven – sounding like a lost late 60s AM radio hit – with a super-cool Wurlitzer solo. „Dim Light“ is full of wicked twists and turns – even featuring a Beatles-like Mellotron. It takes you on a musical trip in many different sections and evolves like a mini-movie. „The Way You Were” – a song about a love gone wrong – is a special highlight, wearing its Lennon/McCartney influences on its sleeve. „Let me shout it now from the mountaintops / Oh Lord, how I love the way / Love the way you were...“ „I’m Looking Up“ – driven by a cool Carole King-like piano part – is a hit song in the waiting. Check out the beautiful sun-soaked string section! They just don’t do records like this anymore. „The Dusk Song“ is another special treat on the album. The hypnotic piano riff just grabs you and takes you deep into Van Dyke Parks territory. „All around is orange and the crow is still bitching / About something in the distance...“. The slowly rolling, mournful „Fade/Return“ – accompanied by cascading ocean sounds – is a cinematic widescreen beauty with a bewitching orchestra part. 10cc anyone? The album ends with the coda „Perfection Comes Near“. Well, it certainly does on this album. Get high with „The New High“, brothers & sisters! It’s the perfect soundtrack to cruise into golden sunsets along the California coast line.