As the title suggests, this is the logical third step in the series of double A-side collaborations that Bay Area singer-songwriter, musician, and all-around legend in the making, Izzy the Gent, has released under the wonderful moniker, Everything But The Everything.
As before, he takes an interesting approach to this wonderful series of collaborations, and whereas many musicians might write a song and then find the right vocalist to sing it, Izzy, being the Gent that he is, puts the singer first, building up a song that is designed to perfectly frame, serve, and play to the singer’s strengths and given style.
Now that we have dwelt on what this new release has in common with what has gone before, we dive into the new and the unknown. “Never Said Goodbye” features the unmistakable voice of Rykarda Parasol and sonically echoes the noirish, sixties-infused psych-pop that she is known for. It’s a song that both shimmers and grooves in equal measure, ticks all the boxes that the pop genre requires but oozes eloquence and sophistication, not to mention a slight hint of danger.
“Horse Bit” sees him join forces with a fairly regular collaborator, Sophie Prise, for a song that is more upbeat and energetic in a classic post-punk-becoming-pop style. Echoes of Siouxsie and the Banshees wash through the song, not just from Prise’s vocal dexterity but thanks to the gothic-tinged soundscape he and his band build for her to dance through.
Mr. Gent has set himself a high benchmark through these releases. After all, each song must possess the requisite qualities of a single, those that require it to be robust, unique, and accessible enough to stand on its own two feet in the big, wide world. It is a benchmark that he is meeting, and indeed, exceeding, with every sonic brace of brilliance he puts out.
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