Track of the Day: CS Hellman – Postcards (2023)
When we left CS Hellman, he was serenading listeners with masterful guitar and rich vocals in ‘The Fear I Felt’. I believe Hellman’s music is not to be heard but felt, and his manner of taking us on intimate journeys proves the point. Coming-of-age themes sliver through his songs acting as a soundtrack to exceed expectations, overcome heartache and “channel anger, frustration, and fear into positive calming energy”. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Postcards’.
With a penchant for the dramatic, but in a good way, Hellman’s distinctive alternative meets blues rock sound exposes raw human emotion through profound lyricism and vivid melodies. Following his well-received singles ‘The Fear I Felt’ and ‘Up Til Dawn’, ‘Postcards’ oozes a vibrant note of pain, frustration, angst and rage wrapped in a hard-hitting tune. Touching on the heartbreaking issue of unrequited love, there is a sense of loss within the poignant song. Yet, while sensitive vulnerability slivers in the track, the powerful crash of instruments exudes desperate angst lying beneath.
If you listen to the lyrics, you can hear his distress as he “bleeds out” and leaves “dead flowers with a broken heart”. Similar to ‘Up Til Dawn’ and ‘The Fear I Felt’, Hellman’s rich vocals intoxicate you with a vivaciousness to ensnare senses. The thing is, while a soothing sentimentality lurks within his voice, the shouts and boisterous execution expertly express ferocity laying his soul bare with vengeance.
Brilliantly arranged, pounding drums match crashing guitars in a scorching blast of rock. Interestingly, just as the instrumentation binds in a harmonic surge of sound, each instrument appears to represent a particular feeling. The drums are heartbeats pounding in your head, the searing guitars are the blood pulsating through your veins, and the sonic rollercoaster expertly represents raging fury and desperate despair.
Unlike other singles that linger in a haze of melancholy when touching on unrequited love, Hellman’s ‘Postcards’ bravely lets lose all the pent-up emotions lurking beneath the surface.
Find out more about CS Hellman on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
