Lucas James McCain - Sounds of Sapphire (2019)

“Ballad of the Boy” where loneliness meets desire all in attempts to create an atmospheric masterpiece.
Greeted are listeners by raw sounds that march them through an array of emotions as they are asked to keep their heads held high. However, what is most notable about this track is the story that it tells alongside what are initially rather unsettling sounds that slowly evolve into a more familiar folk like ones. At times “Ballad of the Boy” feels eerie and desolate, take for example it’s almost apocalyptic intro built by the distorted whine of an electric guitar and stair-step tic-toc of solitary piano key; or later in the track when McCain drops everything and returns to the solo strum of his twangy electric and hallowing melody. As the track progresses it becomes clear this pieces strong suit is the musical contradictions it embodies as it moves back and forth between upbeat confident instrumentals and low almost demonic solos. All in all, I think Lucas James McCain as produced a wonderfully experimental piece that is as captivating as it is reflective, with that in mind, I urge you to grab your headphones and lose yourself to not just “Ballad of the Boy” but every other track on “Sounds of Saphire.”