The reality of life is that even when things are at their best, they always look likely to tumble down. This in turn means that every human being, regardless of their qualities or status, will feel tension, strain, and, in some cases, downright depression. But what’s the solution to this problem? How do you fight away these feelings?
If you’re a songwriter and possess Chris Pellnat’s abilities, the one thing to do is to lean into love, hope and creativity as the things that, under the right circumstances, will help to make sense of all the madness of modern existence. “Reign Down” is an EP of folk-based songs that blend quirks and experimentation with old-fashioned truths.
Just listen to the opening song, “Chasing Love,” a song where a warm, 60s-styled psych-pop chorus is surrounded on all sides by Pellnat’s clever and gloriously odd arrangement choices. This is music about hope received through the gift of experience.
In fact, if there’s one thing in particular to appreciate about Pellnat’s work, it is that it is relentless in taking creative choices, all the while helping to prophesy the merits of love, hope and mercy.
The title track, “Reign Down,” contains a startling, almost Tom Waits-like verse, before the chorus soaks in the influence of early 1990s grunge. On “The Heart Sees More,” it’s Pellant’s shimmering acoustic guitar playing that is used as the foundation. And, on almost tropical-flavoured “Banished,” the singer tells the audience about great regrets over some of the breeziest melodies on the entire record.
And, even when Pellnat feels inclined to come clean and admit to some of those lingering doubts, the music is surprising. “Faces” has some of the soft-loud dynamics that bring to mind alternative-rock, while “Soft Landing” is a strange mixture of Beck-like raps, retro-styled guitar riffs and colourful keyboard lines.
Where does it all leave us? Wondering why not more people seek art and creativity as a way to find some kind of security in the things that they know and love. It certainly seems to be working for Chris Pellnat.
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