Soul music is often considered to be something of the past, but London-based singer-songwriter and saxophonist Maddison Goode is here to dispel that rumour! She’s recently released a new four-track EP titled From a Windowsill, injecting a more modern sound into a classic genre. Don’t forget to check out the stream at the end of this review too!
By Jane Howkins
Opener When You Found Me is a perfect example of Maddison’s sound. It opens with a steady drum beat that has quite a unique sound, injecting something jazzy into the track. The bass throbs along nicely, as occasional piano and guitar motifs tail off, creating a cool vibe. The real focal point here is Maddison’s vocals – she’s got an incredibe voice, running through a range of pitches on this banging soul tune. The backing vocals on the chorus really elevate the tune, making you feel everything she’s singing about here.
The unusually spelled Kry takes things in a slightly different direction, opening with a simple yet effective acoustic guitar melody. As you might expect from the instrumentation, the tune sees Maddison adding a touch of folk into the record, although the jazz and soul elements still retain. The backing effects are used sparingly, but they add a lovely feel to the song, letting the vocals really flow through.
Father is another stripped-down song, kicking off with a slow yet beautiful guitar melody, making for something quite distinctive. The vocals start off with a breathy whisper, slowly building up as more instrumentation is added, all sounding effortlessly produced. It’s a pretty slow number. but give it a go, and I’m sure the track will grow on you in no time.
Final song All It Takes takes the tempo up a notch, introducing a waltzy drum beat, working well with the guitar and bass arpeggios that characterise this song so much. It’s actually really catchy, ensuring you’ll be tapping your feet along to the tune in no time! The chorus is a real stand out point here, creating an anthemic sound that will touch the heart of any listener.
From listening to From a Windowsill, it’s clear that Maddison Goode is an extremely talented artist, and one that has a bright future within the music industry. Whilst the record certainly has a soul ambience, Maddison also introduces a range of other genres, combining them together with ease.
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