The Gathering Blue is a band from New Haven, Connecticut that recently released Anywhere But Here. They state “this album is a side A with all of our stand-alone songs that complement and compare to the other half which is composed mostly of a seamless song cycle called "Anywhere But Here.” Suffice it to say there are a lot of different genres and approaches so let’s get into it.
The first song is “One More Dance” and this is a song that has a lot of different things going on. I was picking up on the ’50s pop vibe on this song. The selling point however is the off-kilter production which gives it a modern and perhaps experimental quality. It’s catchy and I liked the song quite a bit. The genre changes with “Change The World.” This is more of a rock song but again there are some things happening in the production such as the use of modulation effects like phaser which give it a spin. “Gwendolyn” is also very different. It’s moody, theatrical and felt like something you might hear in a play. The synths are dark and cerebral. I wasn’t sure what else to expect moving forward. “Ruffled Feathers” is another very catchy song which does sort of flirt with that ’50s vibe again but this song is very chipper and joyful. The vocal harmonies and piano work was great and helped uplift the already impressive lead vocals. “Darker Days” is an inspirational sounding song with elements of classic rock while “Mad River” had a moody ’80s aesthetic. The album moves forward with a number of genres I still wasn’t expecting. The title track “Anywhere But Here” which is a certified highlight sounded like it was straight from the ’60s And if that isn’t your thing maybe the airy and atmospheric “The Magician” which changes from a Pink Floyd type ballad to a stripped funk jam is more your thing. The band isn’t done yet. The slightly haunting “Bound To Return” and closer “Carry On” have their moments as well. I don’t really know how to classify this band. The band attempts a lot of different styles but also pulls them off. I definitely had my favorites and some weren’t quite my thing but kudos. If you’re looking for a diverse band, this is your ticket. Take a listen.
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