Boy Grapes is an artist who is new to us, but has been releasing an album a year for the past five years. His latest is his most personal and ambitious project to date, capturing his life at some of its lowest points. It’s called ROCKING HORSE.

By Graeme Smith

After struggles with depression, Boy Grapes returned to his home of Washington DC, USA and began working on ROCKING HORSE, his sixth album. He has a very DIY approach to music, making best use of modern tools to record and produce his albums.

The album opens with its title track. A minimal intro slowly gives way to a raw, acoustic arrangement before we arrive at some jangly rock with elements of psych. The vocals are wonderfully soulful during a pleading verse before the tempo shifts. It’s a beautifully textured and interesting start that draws you in to hear more.

COUNT ME OUT ups the tempo and brings with it a sense of anger. Captured spoken word audio sets the early pace, swirling among dizzying guitar and relentless percussion. Its punk vibe contrasts the introspection of the opening track and proves to be an early highlight.

CHARM is light and woozy while SOMETHING REAL is a brooding number full of soul. …IN YOUR SLEEP is a soft yet unsettling lullaby. THE PARASITE canters along with a cutting darkness and storytelling lyrics. It’s another highlight.

WHATDIDYOUDO provides a richly ambient interlude before SOMETHING STRANGE (LESIONS) has something of a timeless feel about it, combining throwback folk with a modern edge. NULL&VOID is short but rich with expression. THE LIGHT opens with some urgent strumming before developing into an expansive moment full of reluctant hope. It’s another highlight.

UNFINISHED UNSUNG / UP THERE has a prayer-like style during its early running before changing up a delicately-plucked melody with meditative lyrics. REPRISE then closes the album with a reflective, vulnerable vignette. It’s a final highlight.

You can check out ROCKING HORSE below.