Singer-songwriter David Rangel explores the age-old tale of breaking up and making up in his debut EP ‘Makeup’.
Comprising of four tracks including the 2019 single ‘The Sores and Me’ and ‘A Make Up Tune’ which was released earlier this year, the EP was a long time in the making – due in great part to the pandemic.
Detailing the various ups and downs of relationships, there’s a great storytelling quality to this record. Rangel combines an acoustic sound with an alternative folky undertone – his sweet-sounding vocals covering the good, the bad and the ugly of love. Beautifully mellifluous, with an ever-present underlying sense of melancholia.
Opener ‘The Sores and Me’ looks at how prying eyes can do more harm than good. Kicking off with the fingerpicked notes of an acoustic guitar, before Rangel’s singsongy vocals enter matching the melody. The addition of piano gives the track a rich fullness whilst retaining a minor key. When the going gets tough, people will often want to meddle in your affairs. Probing sensitive topics isn’t always welcome even from a loved one.
“Please leave my sores alone”
Perhaps the most upbeat track on the record – ‘A Make Up Tune’ is about a relationship on the rocks. A cycle of nearly breaking up and then making up – it’s a situation a lot of us will recognise. A building guitar and punchy percussion make it a toe-tapping number as David ponders a love he just can’t seem to walk away from.
“I’ve come crawling back”
The two new songs of the collection ‘Amber And The Cloverleaf’ and ‘The Glovebox’ feel much more up to interpretation. The former features the tale of a mysterious woman backed with light piano and strings. A chance encounter or unrequited love? It’s unclear, but there’s a strong sense of what could be.
“If I don’t see you before then, I wish you all the best”
Closing track ‘The Glovebox’ seems to cover the much darker side to romance – unfaithfulness. This darkness is mirrored in the sound as a moody bassline pulsates throughout. This discovery of cheating ends quite fittingly with a mournful singular violin.
“Tell me do these belong to him?”
It’s true to say that romance rarely runs smooth; people will love you and people will leave you. David Rangel showcases these highs and lows we’ve all been through with cinematic sound and poetic prowess. If the ‘Makeup’ EP can teach us anything it’s this – listen to your feelings every step of the way.