Dread Fury – Sinner’s Banquet (2024)
The brainchild of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Graeme Brown, Dread Fury is a one-man band that sounds like an orchestra. Known for his energetic live performances, he has a mystical power to intoxicate listeners, engage on a deeper level and earn acclaim amongst his peers, curators, loyal fanbase, and even an MP at one gig. For over a decade, Brown has shared his music with the masses not only at notable venues like The Dublin Castle but also on the blogosphere reaching audiences far beyond his UK borders. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Sinner’s Banquet’.
Influenced by artists like David Bowie, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman and Jimi Hendrix – all trailblazers in their time; Brown is a pioneer in the music industry with his brand of alternative indie soul. Following his well-received single ‘Underneath Your Mask’, he captures the heart of vintage funk with retro soul-rock in ‘Sinner’s Banquet’. Yet, while a strong nostalgic vibe brims from ‘Sinner’s Banquet’, a modern-day bedroom pop vibe shimmers across the melody. Recorded by Brown at his home studio, with mastering by Loz Gill of Fat As Funk Mastering, ‘Sinner’s Banquet’ is both a sophisticated piece but with a slightly distorted rawness woven into the production.
As with ‘Underneath Your Mask’, ‘Sinner’s Banquet’ is a taste of Brown’s upcoming album set for release later this year. While ‘Sinner’s Banquet’ is a hypnotic swirl of harmonic drums, guitars, percussion and keyboards, an uncomfortable weight sends chills up my spine with indefinable obscurity. It is this insert of disconcerting oddness within a mellifluous tune that brings depth, authenticity and innovation in its experimental nature.
Brown shares that “music is a way to communicate. It’s a way to express myself in the best way possible… but it also allows me to tell stories too…” In ‘Sinner’s Banquet’, the tale is a profound conversation between “God and the protagonist telling him about the dangers of attending a party filled with unsavoury characters…” Will the protagonist listen? Given the off-kilter sound, it seems this is a difficult chat and…well, who knows. I find it intriguing that the oscillation between ease and eerie uneasiness aptly aligns with the theme making it a profound piece.
Find out more about Dread Fury on his X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Discover more funktastic funk tunes on The Other Side Reviews Funk playlist:
