Micheal Fordays - All The Rusty Keys

Micheal Fordays

All The Rusty Keys
self-released; 2015

3.8 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry

Veteran touring musician Micheal Fordays has had more than his fair share of experience playing in bands and touring with musicians all over the world. His album All The Rusty Keys on which he collaborates with a host of musicians, is a collection of rock, alternative and folk rock songs.

A bluesy riff on electric guitar sets the scene of “Gabriel” the first song on the record. Steady stomping percussion, full bass and classic rock n’ roll chord progressions combine to accompany Forday’s gravelly, yet harmonious, voice. Melodic vocal harmonies add another layer to the soundscape as the song builds in intensity and dynamics until the end.

The album continues with “Drifting Too Far” a relaxed ballad featuring a full band and reverb-laced vocals. Forday is capable of shifting his voice’s roughness, and in this song he sings in a smooth, velvety style, which suits the instrumentation well. The next track “Far From Our Lives” is a dark anthem that revolves around a minor tone and haunting organ drones.

“Mary Will Let Down” amps up the energy of the album with unfettered guitars, pounding drums and resolved lyrics. This is arguably the best track on the record with its unrivaled vocal performance by Fordays, catchy chord progression and tasteful additions from guitars and vocal harmonies. The next song “Heavy Dirt” takes a rather unexpected turn into experimental and electronic elements, but Fordays maintains his down-to-earth style throughout.

The record ends with “Love Will Let You In” a triumphant tune featuring optimistic lyrics, nontraditional instrumentation and energetic strumming to make for a sunny, lively song. Overall, All The Rusty Keys is a masterfully produced album that displays Micheal Forday’s talent in songwriting and arranging, and its six songs work well as standalone tracks or when taken as a cohesive whole.

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