Simon Linsteadt – Gravitron (2023)
Despite only popping up on our radar recently, singer-songwriter and composer Simon Linsteadt has been marvelling audiences for years. From his highly successful career as the frontman of Steep Ravine including extensive touring across the US to composing music for films, advertising and the podcast This American Life – and this doesn’t even start to describe his work as a solo artist. In the past six years (give or take), Linsteadt has released numerous crucially acclaimed albums garnering even more of a following with each release.
Following his well-received EPs Pioneer and Wild Dagga, Linsteadt adopts a swift synth-inspired pop sound in his new single ‘Gravitron’. If you listen to his previous material, you’ll notice Linsteadt hardly sticks to a single genre; the only element linking his work is a signature cinematic landscape. Unlike his songs ‘Wild Dagga’ and ‘Takeoff’ (available on Wild Dagga), ‘Gravitron’ strips the arrangement entirely with each instrument seemingly executed individually while harmonically interwoven.
A simplistic movement from electric guitars to steady drums with an accordion making a unique appearance, there is nothing ordinary about ‘Gravitron’. Yet, it is the inclusion of people bubbling about in the background hiding cool spoken word that really grabbed my attention. Filled with an avant-garde swirl haziness, ‘Gravitron’ shifts from one style to another; however, the minimalistic approach with a barebones attitude builds a signature style. Linsteadt explains:
“In the spirit of musical collage and ‘portable music’, I weaved together public domain field recordings…bringing the composition into an aleatory atmosphere… Taking music making into such a casual realm is really inspiring to me, given the structures often associated with music production which I have often adhere to, and lately have felt compelled to look beyond.”
While the melody keeps you entranced, it is the theme hiding beneath the intriguing tune that brings something intimate to the song. Wistfully moving through memories, Linsteadt explains ‘Gravitron’ “is a childhood memory of the county fair in my hometown in Northern California.” Oozing mystical sounds in an intoxicating melodic masterpiece, ‘Gravitron’ proves you don’t need an onslaught of instruments to knock the wind out of people’s sails.
Find out more about Sion Linsteadt on his official website, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Discover more dream pop songs on The Other Side Reviews Dream Pop playlist:
