Zeal - Queen Of The Rodeo EP

Zeal - Queen Of The Rodeo EP

Zeal (fervour for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavour; enthusiastic diligence; ardour. - dictionary.com) is the pet project of one Patrick J Hodgen. Under this moniker, Hodgen’s has birthed a sound that dips its toes in country, pop, indie and everything in-between. A stripped back, lo-fi take on modern music, where no genre is safe, this otherworldly release is fearless in its ventures, while demanding everything its listeners can muster. Quite unlike anything I have heard this year from a local artist, the newest endeavour from Zeal is driven by bold expansive strokes that retain a sense of claustrophobia usually reserved for the most introspective of albums.

A paradoxical invention, Zeal manages to combine elements of genres that should not work together and yet manages to make a dark and adventurous EP that sounds like everything from David Bowie and Neil Young. I know what you’re thinking, “temper your hyperbole Ben ffs” but the truth of the matter is Zeal have created a truly unique sound that proves experimentalism in music can be done right. 

As I burn through my eighth listen, I come to the conclusion that indeed, Lo-Fi was the only way in which this could work. The perfect complimentary piece to the EPs restrained snap and omnipresent potential, like a storm on the edge of lightning, the stripped back aesthetic is the perfect antithesis for the psychedelic wail of the guitar or the mesmerising allure of Hodgen’s shadowy vocals. Most impressive, however, is the stark difference between opener Happy Heart, Weary Spine (what I imagine space sounds like) and closer Queen Of The Rodeo (R.E.M mixed with The Kinks mixed with Bojack Horseman). Different enough to sound like two separate bands, but retaining all the delicious entities that make this EP so deeply satisfying.

The type of music that you can envision soundtracking a Tarantino movie, Hodgen managed to walk the knife edge between delicate and sharp while creating an environment which had a little bit of everything. Shying away from excess, which more often than not is the Sun to music Icarus, Zeal have hit the nail exactly on the head, giving just enough away while leaving plenty to enjoy for those adventurous enough. Hewn from moon rocks and sailing on a river of starlight, Zeal has a winner on his hands.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stayne - Parachute

Image
Stayne - Parachute Derry singer/songwriter Stayne makes a highly anticipated return to the ‘new releases’ column with ‘ Parachute ’. A self-described pop artist who brings “something a little different,” his newest single pulls no punches. On his latest, the ‘I slay ’ performer tackles everything from alcoholism, spirituality and needing someone to hold on to a 'human parachute.’ Know to fuse his lyricism with introspection and self-worth before sending them out into the world, Stayne’s newest is his best so far. The warm gruff vocals of the walled city resident flow into range, telling a tale of victory and failure. A stripped back arrangement of keys and ghostly strings help elevate the vocal message, ultimately committing addition by subtraction. Wallowing in a more subtle sound than would be expected from pop allows Stayne to bring his voice to the forefront, giving lines such as “I’m a whole different man when I’m holding a beer” a new gravity. With this being
Read more

Stone Broken, Those Damn Crows + Baleful Creed - 10th February 2019

Image
Stone Broken, Those Damn Crows + Baleful Creed - 10th February 2019 As I make my way down fountain street, my breath materialises in front of me. As it dissipates into the night, a low rumbling grows. It’s emanating from the top floor of local music hostelry Voodoo, which plays host tonight to a contingent of hard rock fanatic and headbang enthusiasts. The scuzz is palpable as I make my way through the door. First onstage is Belfast’s own Baleful Creed . The heavy rock quartet, known for their weighty riffs and ruthless demeanour, are having some fun tonight onstage. While sticking to the meat and bones of their gruff sound, we are treated to some wavey psychedelic blues in between licks. These deviations don’t last however, and it’s not long before pounding drum fills are shaking my back wall table and gruff, leathery textured vocals are searing the paint of the wall. Ripping up the stage with a prehistoric sound steeped in the blues (a wild harmonica appears for a moment),
Read more

Son Of The Hound - You Are Alive

Image
Son Of The Hound - You Are Alive  Musician. Writer. Podcaster. Doggo. Friend (?) of Nathan O’Regan. Take your pick from any number of the titles used to describe Mick McCullagh, but for the purpose of this exercise, we’ll refer to him with his nom-de-plume: Son Of The Hound. The guitar pop troubadour with a penchant for soft, almost vulnerable, anthems returns with new track ‘You Are Alive,’ a strident alt-folk/rock number propelled by a determined spirit and resonant tone. An electric echo leads the march before a percussive stomp kicks the anti-nihilism into its wide-eyed gear. The upbeat chorus is introduced with a Janis Joplin-esque roar of “lonely, lonely, loh-oh-oh-oh-ohnely” before a wall of ringing chords, dripping in alacrity and zeal, slams into the listener. Streams of twilight infused licks flow through the track like tributaries, carrying extra pep with each flick of McCullagh's wrist, towards the grand sense of commonality found in the football chant appeal
Read more