Roo Panes – Pacific EP (CRC Records)
Release Date: 22nd May 2020
I’m still relatively new to the
world of Roo Panes but, after his recent single floored me, I had to come back
for more with the release of this new collection. The ‘Pacific’ EP opens with ‘Listen
to the One Who Loves You’, a song which sleepily emerges from hibernation with
Panes’ intimate vocals gentle rousing you until the song emerges, butterfly
like, from its cocoon. It’s the kind of start most musicians don’t dare to
venture on an album let alone an EP but the time and care taken to let this
opening track fully unfurl is a luxury we should all be entitled to once in a
while.
Title track ‘Pacific’ is up next with
gentle, rippling guitar notes and a vocal that has a touch of the young Chris
Martin about it, soothed and smoothed by a forlorn cello thrum. Like a good
meal, this is delicately flavoured with simple ingredients and leaves a
delicious after taste. ‘Colour in Your Heart’ is a more direct affair with a
pulsing beat and the low hum of keyboards building slowly but surely in to a
triumphant, hopeful and hugely optimistic demi-crescendo. The aforementioned
single ‘The Sun Will Rise Over the Year’ is like meeting up with an old friend
after a long time apart, embracing, smiling and picking up where you left off
without missing a heartbeat. It still reduces me to tears because of its natural
and honest beauty – it might just be the song you need right now.
The EP closes out with ‘There’s a
Place’ which has a more folky rattle to it as the build happens and we’re
pitched somewhere between Ferris & Sylvester, Harbottle & Jonas and
Brother & Bones but without an ampersand in sight. Roo Panes is a criminally
handsome man, an exquisitely patient songwriter and tells stories worth hearing
so don’t leave it too late to get involved in his music, OK? OK.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/roopanes/