Chris Sol – Sugar & Smoke (2022)
Lying on the line between Jeff Buckley and Dan Mangan, singer-songwriter Chris Sol embraces indie-folk with his raw, intimate and tender musicality. Known for his engaging performances, Canadian Sol captures audiences immediately with his charm. Described by Brian Irwin of Monster Studios, Nashville, as having a voice “…like a vintage amplifier that breaks up at just the right point”, Sol has a sophisticated sound made to send chills down your spine. The latest addition to his discography is the EP Sugar & Smoke.
Following his alternative pop single ‘Let You Down’, Sugar & Smoke sees Chris Sol return to his stripped-down indie-folk style. Inspired by life in its entirety, his sophomore EP touches on issues of love, loss, hope and self-discovery. Sol explains that he has “an ongoing journey with mental health…life is beautiful but it’s also turbulent. Sometimes you question everything. You take a step back and wonder how to carry on. With the right support, hopefully, you regroup and do just that.”
Opening with the track ‘Rumours’, Chris Sol establishes himself as an intimate artist that can hit you right in the feels. Stark and bare, the simple ballad combines only Sol’s rich vocals, acoustic guitar and a piano highlighting the beauty of simplicity. While I’m unsure if this is his attention, but Sol slithers in your ear with ‘Rumours’ only to capture your breath and make your skin tingle…. then he takes it a step further with ‘Comin’ Home’.
As with ‘Rumours’, there is a starkness to ‘Comin’ Home’; however, the guitar appears to be more full-bodied (for lack of a better word). It seems to fill the song with its charming tone but retains the sensitivity of Sol’s basic melodies. This can also be seen (or rather heard) in ‘Sometimes’ – according to Sol, one of the most broken-down and simplistic songs of Sugar & Smoke.
While Sugar & Smoke is a minimalist indie-folk EP, Chris Sol shows tinges of dreamier cinematic vibes in ‘Austin, TX’. An ethereal effect can be felt in the melodic arrangement with Sol’s haunting vocals layered atop. Interestingly enough, this song is placed as the middle track of the five-track EP – perhaps a break in the starkness of the other melodies?
So, what is my overall opinion of Chris Sol’s Sugar & Smoke? For me, it is a cinematic EP filled with spine-chilling melodies. One thing that I find intriguing about Sugar & Smoke is that it is kaleidoscopic within its minimalistic approach. Each track has stripped-back instrumentation and arrangements, however, there is a whirlwind of emotion in this melodic masterpiece.
For more from Chris Sol check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
