Cameron Winter is the frontman of indie rock, art/post punk band Geese who releases his solo album `Heavy Metal` this month. Winter has shared that ‘Heavy Metal,’ unravels his eclectic influences into a surreal mosaic of modern songwriting. It is believed to have been composed in abandoned basements, taxi back seats, and in impromptu jam sessions in public spaces, and draws on both the chaos of the road and Winter’s greater sense of existential dread.
The album opens with `The Rolling Stones` a kind of laid-back stream of consciousness shared over a rolling gentle eclectic backing with lyrics that namecheck Brian Jones founding member of The Rolling Stones and what may be John Hinkley Jr who attempted to assassinate US president Ronald Reagan. We have a number in admiration of Nausicaä in `Nausicaä (Love Will be Revealed)` which may refer to a character in Homer’s Odyssey, the daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of Phaeacia who is described as being young, beautiful, and similar to the goddess Artemis. A quite mesmeric soulful number with some complementing harmonies and delightful piano keys and organ.
`Love Takes Miles` is faster paced and has a kind of uplifting spiritual vibe which appears to be in praise of putting in the hard yards for love. There`s a kind of starkness to `Drinking Age` which rolls along with piano, vocals and brass tones on this tale of harsh self-examination and introspection.
A quietly strummed acoustic guitar and jews harp leads us into and through `Cancer of the Skull` a further surreal inner monologue which at times has soulful passages with piano keys, clarinets and brass aplenty. It has a waltz like texture occasionally as it evolves. There`s an appealing recurring hypnotic hymnal texture to `Try as I May` which may well be a passionate struggle for true love.
`We`re Thinking the Same Thing` is a flowing chain of thoughts with a variety of supporting musical instrumentation. There`s a more not hostile but spirited sense to `Nina + Field of Cops` whose lyrics I was unable to dissect meaningfully but seem to have somebody called Nina at their heart.
A kind of groaning, sighing, or mourning leads us into `$0` where Nina reappears on this strange almost dreamlike submission that hints at potential religious faith and conviction. The album closes with the mesmeric almost divine `Can`t Keep Anything` which could be read as an interpretation on mortality.
`Heavy Metal` is I have to say not an easy listen but once you`ve accepted the curious nature of what is shared it becomes bizarrely beautiful and enticing and I was drawn to it as a moth to a flame.
An album which I didn`t fully understand lyrically but was totally captivated by it and sure you will be too.
Rating 8.5/10
