You Are All I See, the debut album from Pat Grossi aka Active Child has a magnetising and alluring charm to it. A former Philadelphia Boys choirboy, Los Angeles-based Grossi’s modus operandi includes an angelic falsetto, effects-laden expansive harp tones and big reaching ’80s synthesizers and on his debut album he combines all of these disparate elements in ways that his previous Curtis Lane EP only hinted at.
There’s a beautiful fragility to You Are All I See which takes its primary sounds from R&B, folk and electronic music. Bon Iver and James Blake comparisons have cropped up when I played the songs to a few friends recently. Of the first three songs have already debuted, ‘Hanging On’ is one of my songs of the year and ‘Playing House’ featuring How To Dress Well and some syrupy autotune isn’t far off. There’s a darkness lurking in the album’s latter tracks as more malevolent tones are brought out by menacing dark-edged synths, (the outro to ‘Ancient Eye’ for example ) drum machines and a spaced-out production.
Tune in:
You Are All I See is out next week – August 23rd through Vagrant Records.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Thanks for this post. So excited about getting album!!
Thanks for this post. So excited about getting album!!
Despite some strong tracks I’m finding this to be a bit all fur coat, no knickers.
Will give it a few more listens though.
Definitely needs more listens in that case so Sean.
Definitely needs more listens in that case so Sean.
Sounds cool!
Mix between Chad Vangaalen and a lil of Bon Iver/Grizzly Bear!
I like! 🙂
Hanging On is very good but the LP is disappointing
Try 3 or 4 listens to be sure big butt.