Text: Laura Rosierse
Singer songwriter Felix Saunders creates enchanting mixes of folk, country and blues and just released his debut EP ‘I Guess This Is Progress’. The four track counting EP is a mellow and laid back piece of work that showcases his well-produced and versatile sound and musical abilities. Hailing from the Western Isles, the Scottish artists draws upon personal stories and emotions and entwines those in emotive and open-hearted songs.
‘I Guess This Is Progress’ starts off with folk pop song ‘Hope And Faith’, the rough vocals of Felix take a deep breath and with their slight edge paint the picture of relying on faith and being close to losing hope. It is a nearly spoken, almost enchanting mantra-like song with carefully created compositions that could have been slightly more outstanding would Felix’s vocals have been turned up a little more. We continue with single ‘Sinking Fast’, an almost heart-breaking and lyrically straightforward song. The soundscape in this song is more filling and plays upon alternative rock compositions but slow paced. Those straightforward lyrics are almost the red thread in Felix Saunders’ releases and way of writing, “I’m too straightforward a character to be bothered teasing with wonder or intrigue.”
‘King Of Nothing’ is the lead single EP and was released ten days earlier, this single is also most definitely the strongest on the EP with a nearly anthem rhythm and a build up that is both exciting and soothing. Some beautiful meaning hides both in the title of the track and the track itself, his new material confirms that he is as well as everyone searching for answers and the meaning of life. With some thoughtful instrumental parts, the song travels like the waves. The last song on the EP, ‘Somthing Waltz’, resembles the sound of FINK, with a bit of Beans on Toast and a stripped back version of The Slow Readers Club and finishes Felix Saunders’ latest collection of songs nicely.
“These songs will sound like those you hear when a late night session was stretched through ‘til dawn, and those who see the sun come up may spill their most vulnerable secrets and try to wash them away with each fresh sip of whatever tipple aided and abetted the process.” It is fragile and honest and without any frills, it’s Felix Saunders at his purest.
