There is a train of thought that says just because you can do something doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Nowhere is such an idea more prevalent than in modern music-making. With all manner of gizmos and gimmicks available in the contemporary studio, many artists are beguiled by such potential and bury their songs under layers of unnecessary sonics, often, I assume, to hide the fact that the song isn’t that good to begin with.
No such thoughts cross Andy Hanson’s mind, certainly not on his latest single, “Gravity.” He knows he has a great song, and he knows that is all you need. And so, using only the addictive rhythms of his acoustic guitar, his warm vocals and poetic lyrics, and weaving in only a few additional sonic touches as the song progresses, he delivers a track that is as confident as it is deft, as accessible as it is infectious.
To call this merely singer-songwriter territory would be to sell him short; all images of wannabe troubadours in wide-brimmed hats and skinny jeans should be cast to the wind; Hanson is the real deal. A singer-songwriter he might be, but only in the same way that Monet liked to throw a bit of paint around!
Not only does Hanson give us the most brilliantly restrained of songs, but he also gives us all something to think about. The “Gravity” in question is the metaphorical weight of those thoughts and fears that keep us awake at night, something we can all relate to.
“Gravity” reminds us that you don’t need all the surplus sonic trimmings if the song is built on solid ground, and Andy Hanson is nothing if not a crafter of the most elegant yet robust songs.
(Wow, I got all the way through without reaching for the old less is more cliche. Damn!)
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