Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Brandon Green - Brass, Wood & Steel

3/8/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Brandon Green

Brass, Wood & Steel
self-released; 2017

​3.6 out of 5

By Dom Eagle

Brandon Green was born and raised in the greater Vancouver area, Canada. His history is short, as he has only been preforming for a couple of years in bars, cafes and the sort. Nonetheless, his expertise is undeniable, and it makes me wonder what things he could achieve with even more experience. He’s opened for bands in bars in the Vancouver area, and busked the drive, which is well-known in the heart of Vancouver.

​He’s a blue collar plumber by trade, and he manages to capture the rawness, intimacy and personal aspects of his life in instrumental music, which is something other musicians can only dream of accomplishing. He takes his music very personally, so he was initially hesitant to share it, but here he is: Brandon Green - the man who builds his own guitars and creates his own music.

His latest nine-track release entitled Brass, Wood & Steel most certainly sounds like all those elements combined and displayed themselves in sonic form through Green. The opening track, “Cliffs and Falls” opens with an impressive, fast-paced, frantic, upbeat-yet-vague-and-mysterious acoustic guitar pattern which dances up and down the fretboard. Sounding as if country and folk entered a strange and foreign land of maddening chaos, Green captures a lot of diversity in a very short space of time. This three-minute track had more melodic sound crammed into its runtime than most six-minute tracks.

“Mudflinger’s Waltz” opens with a bluesy, dark, gripping and emotive acoustic guitar pattern. It fluctuates into moments of upbeat, light and airy melodic bliss in the center of the track, but I welcomed the return of the dark, sliding, brutal, hungry guitar riffs towards the climax of the song.

As Green starts to descend further into the depths of chaos, he strums and slides the guitar strings ever more violently, creating a melodic, dark and raw vibe. This element of his music is addictive, and it’s rare that instrumental tunes from indie artists invoke so much emotion in a person. The passion in Green’s work emanates from every string plucked, every slide and every manic moment.

“Crowsnest in summer’” takes a gentler approach. Country-esque, relaxed chords start as the foundation, though they are quickly joined by a lead acoustic arpeggio which is at first jovial and upbeat, but melancholic and sombre for moments here and there. It is this constant fluctuation between different moods and vibes within the space of a single song which perplexes and mesmerizes me. That he can capture so many different emotions within a short track without losing the flow, consistency or overall vibe of the song and album is a wonder to me.

All in all, Brass, Wood & Steel is an impressive album. Nine tracks almost weren’t enough, but I’m definitely keen to see what this talented singer/songwriter comes out with next. Green sounds as if he’s been playing for decades, which makes me curious to know what he’ll sound like when that is the case.
soundcloud
bandcamp
Tweet
1 Comment
Gill
3/8/2017 08:12:19 pm

great guitar plucking

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact