San Diego-based band The Color Forty Nine craft a moving sound on their new album A Whisper, enamoring in its range of emotively gripping songwriting. From the lushly serene rock pace of “Maybe We’re Flying” to the stately folk entrancement within “The Whisper,” the release excels in its breadth of tones and themes — navigating complex affections, perseverant courage, and beyond.
A haunting, solemn folk unveiling takes hold on opening track “The Whisper.” “I’m trying not to follow, nor stand in the way,” warming vocals admit over quaint acoustics, capturing the delicate balance between leadership and overly domineering control. The “push the shadows to the wall,” sequence proves riveting in the delicate infusion of dreamy keys, shifting seamlessly from the sparser folk entrancement. Ensuing track “We Send Satellites” also captivates with its steady swell, here infusing a ghostly wordless vocal backing with spine-tingling impact. Shades of Nick Cave show in the dignified vocal lead and chilly undercurrents.
Another standout comes via “I’m Getting By,” where crackling piano exudes a vintage warmness as soaring violins enter — invoking a cinematic, wild-west quality as vocals present a relatable weariness in keeping their focus on “the light ahead.” The track is a resonating depiction of perseverance within a memorable folk/Americana intertwining.
“Jubilee Street” brings forth those Cave comparisons again, with touches of The National in its further piano/string cohesion, while “Afternoon Train” closes the album with elegant gorgeousness. A spoken-word expression of a fated meeting, and falling in love, melds within endearing acoustics and bird-chirping. Capturing a variety of emotions — from navigating personal obstacles to falling in love — A Whisper is a showcase of The Color Forty Nine’s fantastic songwriting.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
