An EP release from Michael Isaak has a unique way of delivering a particular breed of honesty that you end up getting attached to because he's so detailed in his descriptions lyrically that it builds character, and you start to realize through the records unfolding that Michael is giving pieces of himself with each song.
The Forever is a Scary Word EP is beautifully woven and brings together elements of classic Folk, singer-songwriter, Indie pop, dream pop, and more.
All of this is rolled together into this one record, and it has a wonderful way of building its own atmosphere, which is addictive, to be honest. Once you're in this atmosphere you, kind of, don't want to leave.
Some of these songs feel very cinematic and of course, they are in part, emotionally driven, and this is something that builds on that personality and that character and gets you more and more engulfed in not only the soundscape but in the stories delivered as well.
This is the kind of record that you listen to from beginning to end because they tell stories that sort of interconnect with each other in different ways. I'm not sure it's exactly a concept album in the traditional sense but when you listen to this full record it feels like each song is like a chapter in Michael's life.
Certain songs feel like they must have been cathartic for him to write and release but for whoever's listening to it, it can be very relatable and completely understandable simply because of how he's letting those inner thoughts out.
This is a mostly guitar-based record but there are also sent pads and sort of string-like elements that flow through the ethers of some of the songs giving them this massive vastness in their underbellies.
I absolutely adore this because this is what I mean by cinematic. The songs feel emotionally bountiful at times and have that cinematic backbone because of how spacious and sort of expansive they can feel.
Songs with acoustic or electric guitar on the forefront always have that element floating in the atmospheric background. This adds depth and layers to the songs musically and emotionally as well, so I feel like there was a lot of attention paid to the detail of how this whole thing was put together. Even through all of that, it never loses that personality and that may be the most important aspect of the entire thing.
The vocal approach is subtle in its own way and has hints of classic artists like Elliott Smith or even Nick Drake at times. I love this approach because not only did I grow up listening to that stuff and love it, but here, it's done really well because sometimes they're double-tracked which also adds more depth, while other times they just deliver these soft melodies that stay in your head for hours after the song has ended.
This was a very personal record with songs that have such great descriptions lyrically and such lush and emotional soundscape musically, you end up getting washed away with everything.
There are certain times when memories of your own can pop into your head and others when you feel certain tracks were written just for you even though you know they weren't.
This is because the record is super connective. Again, it's relatable and understandable but it also brings up emotion, feeling, and thought.
Michael is pretty straightforward with himself lyrically in terms of letting out those inner thoughts and emotions with fewer boundaries than you may be used to, so because of something like that, you were able to really open up in terms of your connectedness with the songs.
It's all pretty beautiful to be honest.
This was a warm and welcoming record but doesn't hold back in terms of certain kinds of struggles or a bit of a darker undertone and this is because it's all coming from someplace real.
I think the word that best describes this record is authentic.
It's a very authentic record simply because everything is honest and there are no walls built around it
A gorgeous release from Michael Isaak, most certainly listen to this record and I would suggest doing so with headphones on because it's one of the best ways to soak everything in the way it was meant to be.
Again, this is vast and open, freeing, and there are notes that float through those ethers that you can pick up on even more with headphones.
Very impactful release.
Check this out right now and listen to it as a whole. Remember where you heard this first.
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