Ian McFarland – Plus One to Heaven (2022)
With his latest full-length album Almost There, Ian McFarland packs what makes him the artist he is into each track. His energy as a performer and emotive range flow through the album as he draws you into a brilliant mixture of clear melodic lines and relatable tales. The opening track ‘Plus One to Heaven’ perfectly captures the overall energy and style of the album, while setting the pace for what is still to come.
Focusing on McFarland’s youthful angst toward religion, the single tells the story of someone who has lost control of their life and asks for help getting everything back on track. Drawing on skills and talents honed over years in and around the music industry, McFarland combines raw emotion with apathy and an engaging melodic line. With this single, he has you eager to hear what the rest of the album has to offer.
‘Plus One to Heaven’ pushes at you with the depth of the opening chords that lead you to a lighter pop flow. The drums bounce under your feet and have you merrily skipping down the melody. The guitars twang and thrum against your ears in the most pleasant way. It is almost impossible to not sway to the movement of the melody. It is like the melody is leading you down a sun strewn path of easy pop tones. There is a touch of retro vibes to the music that twirl hand in hand with a light dusting of psychedelia. Overall, it is a really light and engaging melody that is packed with floating youthful vibes that is a little at odds with the story of the lyrics.
The floating easy vibes of the melody are picked up by McFarland’s vocals as they haze through the soundscape. Through the lyrics, he pulls you into the story of someone who is struggling through modern life. There is a touch of poetry to the structure of the lyrics that flows perfectly into the psychedelic touches of the performance. While there is a feeling of having lost control, the asking for help that is woven into the chorus is masterfully handled. There is the lightest touch of scepticism about the whole concept of heaven, but this is tempered with the understanding of happiness that can be found there.
Ian McFarland brings a hazy wash of floating psychedelic tones to a youthful approach to a serious topic in ‘Plus One to Heaven’. The melody is light and leads you down a sunny path tinged with psychedelia. McFarland’s vocals are a gentle breeze that questions the concept of heaven while still wanting to go there.
Find out more about Ian McFarland on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
