MammaBear – State of Grace (2023)
After listening to the opening guitar strums of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, singer-songwriter Kyle Gordan found his younger self “stopped in my tracks” sparking a passion to pursue music. Skip ahead to 2013 and Gordan is sharing music as MammaBear (or at least according to Spotify). For over a decade, MammaBear has been garnering a following with his moving music and with his recent UK tour, he is intoxicating audiences beyond his US borders. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘State of Grace’.
Following his 2022 album Free Radical, MammaBear takes on various flavours of punk in ‘State of Grace’. An upbeat pop-punk sound mills about a heavy post-punk sonic mist weaving grunge between the murky waters. Penned, performed and recorded by Kyle Gordan, with thanks to Benjamin J. Davidow (additional instrumentation), Kristofer Sampson (mixing and mastering) and engineer John Barrett, ‘State of Grace’ folds the pounding drums and crashing guitar into a grunge-style distorted soundscape. Interestingly, while the hazy gloom exists, it does not last as a crescendo to a scorching guitar solo lifts one’s spirits.
Rich, warm and soothing in a grungy way, Kyle Gordan’s vocals insert a haunting mysticism to ‘State of Grace’. There is a boldness to his tones but vulnerability peeks through with glimmers of angst. The thing is, while Gordon’s voice has a sliding melancholy in a hushed tone, it is also brash with sharpness in punk stylings. It is the perfect expression of the song’s theme – a desire to be with a loved one that is millions of miles away.
“’State of Grace’ is a poignant and melodic song with an extremely catchy hook which speaks of yearning for a loved one’s warmth but being separated by many miles…” – Kyle Gordan on ‘State of Grace’
For more from MammaBear, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
