Partland – After The Movie (2021)
I am not sure how many years of experience you need to be a veteran artist but I think Partland might just be “experienced” not “veteran”. If you haven’t heard of Partland, don’t worry, neither had I before this review despite him being around for over 15 years. The solo project of Ireland-based Thomas McPartland, Partland combines elements of folk and indie-rock in his music.
Known for his engaging performances and charming melodies, Partland has supported the likes of Ham Sandwich, Heathers, Damien Dempsey and Picturehouse. Unfortunately, gigs were put on hold because of Covid-19, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy Partland’s music. The latest addition to his genre-defying discography is ‘After The Movie’.
Following his single ‘Lovely As Me’, ‘After The Movie’ adds a contemporary modern-rock design to his folk style. This alteration in overall sound can be attributed to input from producer Dave Skelton, but overall it is Partland who sings the song. Using a combination of guitars, drums and interspersed piano alongside a string section, ‘After The Movie’ is upbeat, powerful and infectious. Yet, while there is “fullness” to the rich melody, it retains a whimsical and heartwarming quality. It is in this that we see (or rather hear) Partland’s depth of content.
Do you ever wonder what happens after the movie ends and the couple go off into the sunset? The harmonic arrangement and insightful lyricism sort of answer that question…kind of. As I said, the melody has a whimsical quality but it is Partland’s vocals that make the whimsy palpable. Rich and bold, he soothes you in the flowing track, but there is an underlying intricacy that adds a haunting element to ‘After The Movie’. The warm tones seem to be, well, warm, yet there is a sensitive intensity with profound intimacy. A soul-stirring single, ‘After The Movie’ is part of a kaleidoscopic soundscape with an essence of otherworldliness.
In addition to the single ‘After The Movie’, Partland released an official music video. I was unable to view the video in its entirety but what I gathered was an amusing stop-motion video with paper cutouts. It seems to be a visual representation of the song with a balance between childish innocence and mature reflection. Viewer discretion is advised as this video uses light effects and rapid image transitions that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
For more from Partland check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
