The piano is heard as a constant, yet sounds distant in All Just a Drop. What can the dreamy synths not manifest? From the chaos of power metal, they introduce Leo Sawikin with a mellow shred of a slowcore/alt-rock ballad which is unique in style and production. Beautiful piece, one of my favorites on the album. Curated to implore and explore the depths of each stroke, the Hozier style composition is experimental as well as observational in terms of a song, seemingly reacting to prior strokes. An unusual chord progression for the chorus, but it works with the instruments keeping hold of a structure.ĭropping to a lo-fi composition with If I Stayed, the song uses synths and whispering guitar to enforce a synthesized world of possibilities. If the chorus and verses are the sketch, the melody is the color, vibrant pops with mellow pastels balancing out this song. The minimal soundscape allows passion to reflect, and makes it a worthwhile listen, many times.įorming sensational volume with a spaced apart drum beat, A Whole World Waiting sketches out a world of possibilities. It is a song that triggers past moments with guided precision, something that usually only a master songwriter achieves. Golden Days (Far Out at Sea) is a reminiscing song that beautifully melts memories into a necklace of integrated chord changes and flowing guitar parts. It might be a hip-hop beat for a beginning, but that’s the clever delivery. Relatable and personal, this song acts like a catalyst to emotional depth you would want to feel. From the glory years of Coldplay’s X&Y, the song builds, sonically and in depth as we go into the deeper center, where the core is reachable. Like you would expect Leo to, he delivers with razor edge precision. Row Me Away is a flowing track with a lot to offer, with an interesting opening as well. The punchy bassline and funk groove allow his voice to shine, which it does owing to the cool progression.

His voice sounds the same too, with the sensibilities as he covets the pop pizazz and adds the indie pop-rock flavor we all crave so much. Opening the album with Born Too Late, Leo cruises on what can be explained as Sting after he left The Police.

His album is called Row Me Away, and he is in untested waters for what might be a great journey. I don’t know what does it for Leo Sawikin, but he has taken a path of experimentation and blending strains of music that pleasantly surprise. All it takes is personality, sometimes the approach to the craft. Sometimes its as easy to tear away from the norm.

Tom anderson guitars 7 string