Slow Dancer
In a Mood
ATO
Jun 22, 2017 Web Exclusive
Throughout In a Mood, Simon Okely (Slow Dancer) untangles a relationship—he mourns and celebrates it. What’s fascinating about this deconstruction, however, is that he does not separate his feelings in a way that makes one song distinctly happy and another sad. Rather for each song Okely crafts an entrancing tie-dye swirl of emotions that leaves you uncertain if you should smile or cry so you do both.
Take the gorgeous “I Would” where Okely remembers the simplistic sweetness he held, “All the others went and bought their cars and built their houses but I think we make for better dancers.” Yet a few verses later he delivers the gut-punching line, “sticks and stones will break my bones but your words simply destroy me.” On closer “I’ve Been Thinking,” Okely again mixes pain and pleasure as he resigns to the power of love despite the agony it causes—“I’ve been thinking about your love, I can’t get enough of it.”
Okely works through these emotions in his comfort zone and borrows from the music he grew up with. The album takes its cues from ‘60s and ‘70s soft-pop and R&B and is doused with thick bass lines, warm grooves, and silky vocal harmonies—“Don’t Believe” is a delectable combo of all three. In a Mood is an album that begs to be taken on the road and to be danced to and will be there to help you through your own tough stuff. (www.slowdancer.bandcamp.com)
Author rating: 7.5/10
Average reader rating: 8/10
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