slice of lime

“Dreaming On The Floor”

Ash opens us into the landscape of Escaping Eden with a soft inhale of sound, long droning guitar and beckoning riffs. It feels like the space between stars up in the sky, so distant from each other but reaching inwards. The song builds naturally and slowly, a pillow to lay down on into the intro of this song. Just instrumental, the song is still dense with lots of sounds to experience and enjoy. The reverb on the guitar is exquisite, the tone a delicious introduction the album.

“Moon Eyes”

One of my favorite techniques used in albums is when songs draw into each other, flowing seamlessly into each other. Escaping Eden offers that with these softer songs, like breaths or words in a sentence. They belong next to each other as a way of existing. The background vocals are a bit loud, his voice like a rattlesnake’s rattle in the landscape of the song and it is momentarily distracting. I particularly enjoy the drums guide the song though, the layering of the vocals with guitar melodies later on bringing it all into a glorious mirage of psychedelic rock. Ash says this album is one about falling in love, and if that is true then may we all pray for a love as gentle and seamless as this album.

“Time”

These songs continue to blend into each other, but “Time” builds upon itself like a raincloud would. The cymbals being the clash of lightning, the thrumming bass the thunder. Ash approaches this angle of indie rock with an open and expressive sound, the psychedelic fitting into the cracks and spaces effortlessly. This track leans back on its heels, almost bashful and sweet in its rhythms. The drums continue to impress me, adding to the songs in such a way that elevates each section. The introduction of the saxophone feels cheeky, jazzy and makes the song playful in its melodies.

“Home”

Some of the bands more country notes begin to ring in on this song, the steady trudge of the bassline setting a familiar pace. Ash’s vocals smooth in nicely in this song especially, velour soft on the ear. The bright melody and silky transitions lift the sound into more indie, dare I say bedroom pop areas with the spaciness and gauze like wrapping around the vocals. The sun peaking out behind the rainclouds created in “Time”, those cymbals come back like a familiar friend. There is a constant thread tying these songs together that feels like falling in love with a friend, the established adoration just folding in on itself to become brighter. “Home” feels like one of the longer songs on the album, playing in these moments of sloth like comfort and desire.

“Bricks & Mortar”

This song continues that brighter journey into the storyline. It is buttery and sweet. The guitar and drum play off of each other’s rhythms, at ease wit each others presence like sharing a hammock with your friend. “Bricks & Mortar” is a favorite for the vocals as well, deep baritone at times and seamlessly emotional. The song feels like a love confession, bearing your heart on your sleeve, and the vocals capture that vulnerability. The ending of this song was such a beautiful cry into the air, a curse towards God or a praise to the heavens. The guitar riff winds upwards in powerful wing strokes, burning too close to the sun and dropping us into the beginning of “Drunk”.

“Drunk”

The trudging bassline of “Home” hints at another appearance in this song, and I can see the flowing storyline and common threads slipping between these songs. They lean into an Americana whispering into bedroom pop with the airiness and space in their songs. The canyon of echo enveloped within this song is caught really well in the guitar melodies, the tone and emotion shown really beautifully. The vocals are a highlight in this song, reminds me of the same resigned whisper in Noah Kahan’s Stick Season, the tragic acceptance of some fate. The ending guitar tone on this song is really syrupy. If you only have ten seconds to elevator pitch listen to this song, choose the last ten seconds of this song.

“Hardcore Boy”

There hasn’t been a song so far that hasn’t impressed me with its use of drums, but I must comment on this song’s use of drums as well. They’re pillowy and shimmery in all the right moments. The instrumentation feels as deliberate as moss growing on the damp side of rock, purposeful and welcome. As we head into the last leg of Escaping Eden it begins to lean darker, not sad or angry but rather like the shade of a willow tree after being in the sun.

“Runaway”

The vocal melody in “Runaway” is really interesting, this back and forth of sound. The bass in this song is syrupy as well, dark honey and clammy palms. It feels like flushed cheeks, the sweat along the soft hairs at the base of your neck. It is youthful hopefulness. I think his songs could benefit from more twinkle, those mastering decisions that give something extra to the songs. I want a cowbells, is it wrong of me to want a cowbell? Although, Ash Redhorse & The Midnight Suns knows better than me and a cowbell could be too much for this moment.

“Lost”

This track feels like spring indie rock, smells like a puppy, and sounds like something you could hear while tubing down a river. The song leaves echoes of the feelings of newness yet recognition. I could listen to it while looking for my lover in a crowded airport. It is building in a hopeful, eyes connect across a crowd apprehension towards the end of the album. It does feel like the place you end up in after “Runaway”, like respite next to a river. Mist and wintergreen, “Lost” feels like an expression of all things soft and sweet.

“Eden”

“Eden” is the orange clouds around a sunset, the guitar turning towards a darker nighttime. The melodies begin to descent like falling asleep for a nap, where the airiness in the previous songs felt like open blue skies the airiness in “Eden” is more like a vast forest. The vocals and drums create dense tension in the song, a wild lack of abandon that bleeds into the song.

“The Nature of You”

The final song, “Nature of You”, is the exhale released after saying I love you for the first time. It is at ease. It reminds me of the stillness of watching snow fall in the light of a lamppost, so singular and intricate in its moment but ultimately a speck in the creation of something else- the final song on an album about falling in love. I appreciated how it built into this deeper sound, a richer, earthy sound rather than the lightness and airiness from the beginning of this album. It is a brilliant last note to leave us, as the listeners, on after the journey of Escaping Eden.

If you like reading poetry in your free time, Royel Otis, and salt water taffy you’ll like… “Bricks & Mortar”.
If spring is your favorite season and you like Clairo you’ll like… “Lost”
If you like key lime pie, ethereal indie rock, and watching the sunset you’ll like… “Eden”.