Info: Hailing from the historic walled city of Derry, music has been ever present in Mason’s life from a young age. With three albums under his belt, and a fourth primed for release, Mason has now found his space on the musical landscape, conjuring the wistful wonderment of Elliott Smith, Grandaddy, Villagers and Matthew Jay.
Flowing gently by, amid a sea of hushed lilting vocals, whispering lyrical poeticisms and subtle instrumentation, Mason reveals himself master of hook, harmony and heart. At times fragile, tender and touching, his songs are paradoxically permeated by an air of richness and comforting warmth, yet shrouded in melancholy, and draped in Mason’s intuitive song writing and storytelling abilities.
Like an optimistic yet troubled troubadour, Conor Mason sets the scene for his fourth album On The Surface with the twinkling lights of 'Falls to Ground', his vocal and plonking grand piano eschewing a gentle and welcome sigh into our ears. 'We Watched the Sky Rotate' meanders solemnly like a stream in the dense woods, the plodding light percussion acting like footsteps on the banks, maybe it's just the time of year, but already there's a very visual and autumnal feel to the album.
After the lighter air of 'Follow', a poignant and uncluttered moment arrives courtesy of 'Passing Colours', Mercury Rev vibes abound, and it's clear that Mason feels what he writes as the track begins to rise gradually towards its ornamental finale. A different kind of calm settles around us on the album's title-track, this feels more personal with less of an expanse surrounding it, as though we're indoors, and in a strange way, safe. The melodies and background vocals are especially mellow.
I love the rustic sound of acoustic guitar on 'Let It Bloom', one half Dylan, one half Sufjan Stevens, its earthiness is very real and charming, and like most of On The Surface, it places next to no demands on us. Proper 70's popular folk sounds spring forth from closing track 'The Time In Between', such a gentle trundle and Mason's voice is pristine in its smoothness. This is an album that will instantly draw the attention, but to fully appreciate it, it needs to be soaked up over time. Of all of its characteristics, perhaps generosity stands out the most, it's hard to escape the thought that Conor Mason wrote this album for us, for strangers, rather than himself, and this adds immeasurably to the glow the listener basks in from On The Surface.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conormasonmusic/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1amPVQOLwiA0phz4JxpEET?si=Dkf0sHJ1TiuZwsunKqSpHA
Bandcamp: https://conormason.armellodie.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/conor_mason
