AC Peer – Howard’s Hue (2022)
With his EP Howard’s Hue, AC Peer takes us through tracks that range from energetic to immersive, edgy to soulful and moody while quirky. Across the alternative RnB and jazz tracks, he is joined by friend Dan Wuertz (bass) and brother Austin Peer (guitar). Continuing to draw on the influence of RnB, jazz, hip-hop and pop, Peer adds something uniquely him to this self-produced EP.
His fifth EP, you can hear the progress and improvement he has made in production and vocal delivery, as he draws you into the story of the tracks and their overall sound. While he is joined by a long-time friend and his brother on the EP, this is a solo project that was started in 2017. Since then, he has been capturing the hearts of listeners with his sound.
The EP opens with ‘Two Burns’ which tells the tale of being caught between two forces. The bluesy undertones that open the single shuffle through your senses. There is a slightly quirky movement to the melodic flow as the dynamic texture of the melody winds its way through your senses. Peer’s vocals are smooth with the lightest hint of smokiness. As his vocals curl around the lyrics, he draws you into a moody contemplation of the situation you find yourself in, stuck between these two ideas or forces. It is a wonderful opening track that gives you a hint of the bluesy smoothness of his RnB sound, while teasing the quirky and edgy undertone.
‘Lindenhurst’ has a lighter almost pop tone that is woven into a relaxed RnB vibe. There is a heat to the sound that makes you feel lethargic and heavy like the summer heat is pressing down on you in a packed city. As you feel the heat of the city in the music, the lyrics contemplate how the tri-state area can test your patience. While you are being tested by the area, there is an easiness to the single that you can’t deny. You really want to sink into the heat of the music and let yourself float on the warm air currents. Beneath the vocals is a relatively stripped-back melody that is packed with the shuffle of drums and a light strain of piano.
The EP is cut in half by the jazzy interlude that is ‘AquaACP11’ which merges futuristic jazz with eclectic synths. The jazzy beat has your head bopping and pushes you down the short track. The pulse of synths brings an element of electronic jam to the track, which takes it in a futuristic direction. While a short track, it is a wonderful break in the EP and adds a little something different while showcasing the musical process of Peer.
‘Not Peer’s Morgan’ has a punchy piano line that bounces off the grooves of the beats. There is something about the melody that makes you want to close your eyes and take in every note while getting down to the groove. There is an old-school bluesy jazz vibe to the vocals that bring a witty edge to the lyrics. You can easily imagine Peer playing this track in a jazz bar with just the piano and a drummer, while the patrons move their heads to the rhythm. Throughout the track, Peer showcases the power of his vocals, while highlighting the beauty of piano and drums alone. As the single progresses, a guitar line enters, adding a new flair of texture.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Plug Me In’ which is the most raucous track on the EP. There is a quirky feeling to the opening that keeps you on your toes as you never quite know where the next note will come from. While slightly off-kilter, there is an undertone of smooth melodic movement. While the most raucous track on the EP, there is a groovy vibe to the song that keeps it in line with the smooth RnB and jazz of the rest of the album. As you move to the melody, the lyrics draw you into the constant plugged-in world we live in. There is a touch of burnout to the lyrics that links to being plugged in constantly, before the song abruptly ends.
AC Peer has us grooving to jazzy RnB vibes while throwing quirky and eclectic melodic movements at us in Howard’s Hue. The EP covers five very different tracks that showcase the versatility of his sound. There is also a splash of witticism and a critique of the way we live in the digital age.
Find out more about AC Peer on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
