Jackson Vincent describes his music as being ‘music for ghosts’. Whilst this might seem like a strange characterisation, it’s oddly fitting, with the 6 tracks on his EP, Normal Tension, having a gloomy indie folk sound. The Philadelphia native has created something here that will also appeal to those into their emo and alt-pop, so it’s a good all rounder if you’re into you’re experimental music.
By Jane Howkins
Roving Soul is the opener, starting out with a slow guitar melody, as well as some recorded spoken vocals, adding a touch of atmosphere to the bleak surroundings. Jackson’s vocals use a lot of autotune, which I’m not normally a fan of, but it serves a great purpose here, adding to the textural feel of the music. A steady beat is added to give the music a little more variety, but it tails out towards the end.
Happiest is a little different, starting with a palm-muted guitar melody. The sparse and stripped-down opening of the track is elemental to setting an ambience, with Jackson’s vocals taking more of a prominent role here. Some backing synths are added alongside the percussion and simplistic guitar lines, adding extra layers to this unique sounding song.
The Life starts with a pretty, clean electric guitar melody that actually sounds rather beautiful, with extra guitar lines being added as the song progresses. Jackson’s vocals are really haunting here, adding an eerie yet beautiful quality to the music as a whole. The lyrics are rather depressing at times, but they work well with the style of the track, drawing you in straight away.
Old Dog brings the spoken vocals back, with the guitars being pushed to the background here. This song has more in common with the shoegaze genre, featuring fuzzy guitars and a dreamy feel that sounds almost ethereal at times. The synths in the background slowly build up, as the deep percussion joins in. The track follows a similar melody throughout, sounding somewhat positive, despite the melancholy nature of the music.
Youth sounds a little like a traditional folk song at first, with an acoustic guitar being played, albeit one with several different effects used. It’s played in a fingerpicked style, as Jackson’s autotuned vocals drift across the top of the music, with the vocal effects dominating the tune somewhat. Again, this is another song with a hidden beauty, especially when the vocals hit the higher notes.
Fine/Flame also has a folky vibe, featuring a slow acoustic guitar melody as the main instrumentation underneath the vocals. Jackson clearly has a lovely voice and his vocals have a lot of emotion, shining through despite the effects used. A slightly discordant piano line appears to provide a bit of contrast against the guitars, trickling through the music like a waterfall.
Jackson Vincent’s music won’t be for everyone, but those who like their music a bit different from the norm should at least check out this experimental offering, as there’s lots to like on Normal Tension!
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