https://vampvinyls.blogspot.com/2022/10/loyal-opposition-peek-into-twelve-year.html
Ready yourself for the battle!
Apologies, I’ve been re-bingeing Game of Thrones. What
I meant to say was ready yourself for ‘The Battle’, an album from
Michigan-based multi-instrumentalist known as Loyal Opposition. Having played
all over the world, this one-man band is a powerhouse of independent music;
writing, mixing, mastering – you name it, Loyal Opposition does it and in that
regard, does it well!
In first track, ‘D.E.A’ the listener is acquainted
with Loyal Opposition’s atelier of allegretto alacrity, opening with a sensuous
arpeggio from the kittenish guitar progressions. If you think you know where
this track is going, forget what you know and be transported across an abruptly
grimy and visceral twang of rock-infused mania.
Rippling out into a discordant patchwork of
speaker-rupturing chords, the intrepid drumbeat sews together the track’s
monomaniacal imprint of chaos, embellished with a gory syncopation.
Meshed together with a disunity of in-your-face
dynamics, ‘D.E.A’ reaches a cloud-piercing crescendo that could shatter glass,
mirroring the unpredictable meanderings of life – sending you on a twisting
trail of mayhem that requires no lyrics to express its emotive value.
Although I think the track needs a little more of a
refined cohesion within the instrumentation, you can hear how experimental and
creative Loyal Opposition’s production process is, having an audible passion
for the mastery of music.
*
Another track from the album that caught my eye (or
rather, my ears) is titled ‘Mixed Combinations’ which has a much more
controlled texture than ‘D.E.A’ and an eclectic composition which is
genre-defying!
Ornamented with a jollified playing of the piano, a
punchy drumbeat attacks the track with an envenomated progression, violently circling
the mirthful tone of the piano’s melodic structure.
Looming over the track, the guitar ripples over the
air like an everchanging cloud, tying together this brontide of eccentric
instrumentation. Ebbing through a mix of loud-quiet dynamics, the initial
andante tempo is sent hurling through the storm of belligerent drums, as the
track progresses, setting the harmonies ablaze.
Having performed all over the world, the influences
from a plethora of cultures is prominent within Loyal Opposition’s work,
however I don’t think every element within the track blends together as
seamlessly as I would’ve liked, I found myself confused as to the emotional
context behind ‘Mixed Combinations’.
That being said, I love how Loyal Opposition is
emblematic of independence, after playing in bands since the age of eleven and
having experienced musicians who didn’t take their artistry seriously, he set
out to only rely on his own talent.
*
The last track we’ll be looking at from ‘The Battle’
is named ‘A Shorter Idea’ and is probably my favourite track from the album!
Entering into a vibrant dalliance between the zesty
guitar and buttery bassline, you have a recipe for a beautifully fluid melodic
structure that isn’t overshadowed by the youthful drumbeat.
Combining to create a tone that sports a shade of an
archaic Western flick, you can envision a battle-wearied anti-hero entering the
town’s saloon, plotting his greatest revenge at the bottom of a whiskey glass.
Loyal Opposition paints this picture effortlessly,
jam-packed with a shadowy harmony between the instrumentation that perfectly
compliments the sultry tempo and almost susurrus dynamic.
The woody timbre of the guitar is addictive in this
track, as smooth as brandy with a fiery kick that I keep returning to,
especially as it melts over the smooth rhythm the track exudes.
Unlike my opinions on Loyal Opposition’s previous
tracks, this song displays a gorgeous marriage of every element and is as
cohesive as it is romantic.
*
Overall, I think if Loyal Opposition clarified the
direction of his music and controlled the instrumentation he employs, he could
be one to watch out for!
Loyal Opposition has been releasing music on a
multitude of online sites since 2005, including his variety YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition
Till next time.