On The Stranger EP, Liverpudlian guitarist Fox Rivera steps forward to take center stage. He’s played in many bands; he’s created this solo work to bring some of his own songs to life.
Rivera gave himself a bit of a challenge: he wanted to keep the songs short, like a good Creedence Clearwater Revival record. That “less is more” approach is a tough goal to meet, but Rivera gets there, and soars beyond. Each of the five tracks on the EP clocks in around three minutes with the longest (“Someone I Once Knew”) clocking in at just under four minutes. The Stranger EP offers nice variation in the instrumentation throughout; Rivera fits a lot of texture within these tight confines, all without overwhelming his listener. The tracks are constructed around Rivera’s acoustic guitar and vocals, and all are easy and accessible. The opener “Dirty Trick” is a good example with its folk/pop, sing-along melody supported by bass and drums with light bits of organ, banjo and vocal harmony added for color. The repeated musical patterns underneath are straightforward but never boring--they are just right for the song they’re supporting. I wouldn’t change a note! The title track, up next, keeps the pattern of straightforward musical themes, but the production is a bit more layered, modal and spooky. Rivera includes a nice piano motif as well. “Someone I Once Knew” features a sweet melody over a fingerstyle acoustic guitar figure. Rivera works in good supporting harmonies and piano counterpoint; the track builds nicely with string parts and some just-underneath percussion thump. “If I Fall” features the biggest production on the album. It starts off as a folky acoustic-guitar love song that could have been lifted from an Irish pub session. Rivers builds it into a full-on pop track with female backing vocals, a variety of instruments (bells! hand claps!) and a gritty electric guitar slamming out power chords mixed low and right. It’s terrifically arranged, as the intensity of the track ebbs and flows, eventually culminating in a high-point finish. And all in three minutes! The final track “Emptiness & Blue” is a melancholic cap to the set. Rivera has fit another lovely melody over a two-bar acoustic guitar pattern with a plaintive trumpet part adding to the mood. He shows off some songwriting chops with a nice bridge that features some interesting chords. After listening, I need a hug, but I wouldn’t change a note. The Stranger EP delights throughout with great arrangements and tasty bits to discover on every track. Enjoy!
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