If you haven’t had the pleasure of encountering the talented New York musician Dylan Charles now is your chance as he has just released his new album containing 10 magnificent and excellently produced songs. The solo artist has created the perfect album for summer time, with chill vibey songs which include lots of guitar, synths, drums, keys, and vulnerable vocals. Transmissions is a 41-minute long voyage into Dylan’s world, but it doesn’t just feature Dylan, there is a variety of musicians partaking within this album who collectively have created something quite brilliant.
The songs within this album all sound quite similar to each other with the introductions starting soft and ending on a more rockier beat, but this doesn’t take away from how enjoyable every song is. With songs on the album like Seeing You, Transmissions, Watching the Sun Go Down, Strong at Heart, and Were you Even Listening?, they give personality to the album. Dylan is quite obviously inspired by indie-folk with country vocals and synth-pop as there is a lot of these type of songs on Transmissions.
The first track off the album is Ship which sets a ruminative tone that contains heartfelt lyrics, which is carried through to every song. This song reminds me heavily of The 1975 with a slow, bluesy atmosphere to it. The celestial vocals are what stood out to me just as much as the guitar as it’s a song I could listen to all day with no efforts to turn it off. It starts off slow and chill with a terrific build up but then Dylan’s vocal work is utterly insane towards the end becoming more raspier and gripping, it enticed me to listen to more of what was to come – and may I say I was not disappointed.
Upon reaching the third track Transmissions you will be so captivated by Dylan’s work, you will not want to turn the collaborative album off. Thunderstorms is quite literally a song that would fit perfectly for a rainy day but is also a metaphor for describing hard days with lyrics such as ‘Don’t you ever get lonely? Don’t you ever get sad?’ This beautifully written song is a reminder that everyone has hard days. With Strong at Heart following – the two songs have similar meanings but Strong at Heart, to me, is from a couple’s perspective. You have to stay strong for each other no matter how many hard days you have.
I really loved the indie tone that Were You Even Listening? has to offer. With the drum beat being consistent throughout, and the vocals being so genuine, it’s as if Dylan is talking, from his perspective within the song, to someone who just isn’t interested in what he is saying with the lyrics ‘Did you want to say anything? Were you even listening? I just get carried away.’ Towards the end Dylan uses his vocals to his advantage going from more of a soft tone to expressing how he truly feels with sharp shouting of the lyrics. I honestly have to say this track is one of the more stand out songs off the album.
As we reach the end of the album, songs become more soft but the indie vibes do not disappear. Just the Beginning is the 5 minute closing track and it is an exceptional song for the end as it features another artist on whose vocals fit the song tremendously. Their soothing voice adds character to it and makes it a great closing track. The song also features gentle guitar which has been mastered perfectly!
Don’t miss out on listening to this new hit album as you might just find your new favourite songs or even better; your new favourite artist!
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