A proponent of the indie scene of New York City, USA as a founding member of the band Meyru, T.F. Gambon has come to our attention through his new solo work.
By Graeme Smith
His debut solo project, As We Dreamt, sees him exploring the world of introspective folk, letting his lyrics do the talking in a stripped-back collection of eight tracks.
Getting things going is the delicate and heartfelt opener, Eyes. A smouldering first verse nicely sets up a soaring chorus in which Gambon’s vocals shine. All the while, a raw acoustic guitar rhythm keeps things moving with ghostly layers creating atmosphere. It’s a beautiful start.
Floorboards livens things up, introducing harmonica and some world-weary storytelling. Oldsmobile oozes with a sense of bittersweet nostalgia while August lightens things with a bright and philosophical moment. Take It From Me offers some slow, lingering melancholy. Real As We Dreamt It is a highlight thanks to its gentle guitar strumming and wistful feel. Evergreen gives us a classic folksiness before 58th & 10th closes the album with powerful minimalism.
T.F. Gambon’s debut album is one that does a lot with a little. There’s plenty of nuance across its eight tracks while all hanging together on a delicate vibe and some rich lyrical storytelling. If you’re looking to feel today, then you need to give it a go.
As We Dreamt was produced by Cal Maro and recorded in his Brooklyn apartment. It’s out now and you can give it a listen below.