Where does the often-maligned “soft rock” slip into a much more redemptive dream-pop landscape? Well, right here if you ask me, with the new one from Zachary Mason, that’s where. But it would be unfair, really, to wield the words soft and rock around in the presence of “Madness Gladness,” which is a song deserving of a much better sonic sobriquet than that. The term soft rock implies a type of music that has compromised its rock and roll bite for more mainstream acceptance, but I don’t think Mr Mason ever had thoughts in that direction.
No, he is more about using understatement, restraint, subtlety, and suppleness to contour elegant and appealing soundscapes. And that is precisely what we find him doing here, and he is doing so brilliantly.
Using drifting and dreamlike guitar textures, he builds his song layer upon layer so that light sonic slices increase exponentially as they are added, into an ornate and elegant whole. The background beats gently build momentum, and Mason’s vocals delicately dance over the top, and that is it. Simple? Perhaps, but I’d like to see you try to get this delicate balance poised so perfectly.
Taking the theme that the power of love can induce a state that is both maddening and full of joy, hence the title, “Madness Gladness” is a beautiful track, but also more than merely a song, a soundtrack to a feeling, a sensation, an emotion, a state of mind.
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