It is one thing for the likes of Rolling Stone magazine to describe Withered Hand as having “killer melodies.” No disrespect intended, but it is the sort of thing that they say. But when Justin Currie bandies around phrases such as “Godlike Genius,” then I sit up and take notice. And this latest single is not a Del Amitri steal in any shape or form, but I’m willing to bet that if you like one, you will enjoy the other. Or, put another way, if you liked Waking Hours, you would love “Waking Up”.
It has all the hallmarks of what made that era of Del Amitri such a joy to behold. Making pop music with such poise is a real skill, but it is a skill that Withered Hand has in no small amounts, and “Waking Up” seems to be built from a heady blend of pop accessibility, smart, singer-songwriter nouse, and just enough soulful and soothing horns to polish things even further and add a nice additional element.
I don’t want to keep banging on about the Dels but imagine them embracing a slightly Memphis sound, which is where we are. But Withered Hand is nothing if not his own man, and while such reference points are helpful, this is his sonic story and his alone. As a first hearing (sorry to admit that he is a new artist to my ears, but you can’t be everywhere, can you…well, not until I perfect cloning and build an army of music reviewers in my image), this is a tasteful and tantalising first encounter. I can’t wait to consume more of his work at the first opportunity.
Order the single
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