Engrssongly Intoxicating
Like pulling the rip chord on a parachute Miracle Fortress' debut album 'Five Roses' offers the feeling of complete exhilaration combined with uncompromised escapism. Unbelievably a solo project from Think About Life's Graham Van Pelt, 'Five Roses' is unquestionably his baby, a collection of his thoughts and talents as he unravels a 60s influenced avalanche of whimsical pop songs to bathe you in sunshine and warmth. And all this from a guy whose only 23!
With the grandeur of Arcade Fire and the weirdly contagious whirs of Brian Wilson buzzing throughout, 'Five Roses' is a an album brimming with ambition and bursting with booming pretension that charmingly sprinkles gallons of feel good vibes from each psychedelic buzz and every thumping beat. A the whimsical melody of the perfectly titled opening track 'Whirrs' washes over you it is immediately obvious that 'Five Roses' is an album to retreat into, a means out of the everyday stresses and strains and the ideal way to lift the spirits.
With the eccentrics of 60s pop dazzling from each track Van Pelt manages to embody the bittersweet sugar coatedness of the era, even the album's art work radiates with pink flowers and optimism. Echoing the sound of the Beach Boys to perfection, 'Beach Baby' is almost like a missing hit from the Californian group as it glows with affection and tranquillity and bristles with layered vocal harmonies to truly make you believe it is the 60s band once more providing a sun soaked route of escape. It's the ideal way to capture the 60s feel good mood without calling in a favour from Doctor Who.
But there is more to the album that sugary sweet idealism. Although each track may delight with feel good energy there is a strange combination of opulence mingled amongst down to earth simplicity that makes for an engaging listen. From the out of body harmonies that appear almost angelic on 'Hold Your Secrets' to the heart wrenchingly honest lyrics of 'Poetaster' beggingly beseeching "Mother free me, they beat my body blue" to the building climax of the thought provokingly intellect of 'Blasphemy', Van Pelt has been able to create an album that will make you feel every emotion and one which will leave you pondering its subjects for hours after.
It is hard to believe that 'Five Roses' is the work of one man, so vast is the sound and so intriguingly captivating is the outcome you become absorbed in the album as a whole, convinced that it the calumniation of many more musicians. With such a mind blowing debut there is no doubt that Van Pelt is a man to get excited about, highlighting further the increasingly thriving musical scene that is currently coming out of Canada as the brilliance of 'Five Roses' engages you from start to finish. Engrossingly intoxicating, 'Five Roses' will stir passion and provoke thought leaving you tingling with excitement and bursting with questions.