Loyal Opposition is back! The virtuosic mind behind
instrumental album ‘The Battle’ has returned with eponymous, second release
‘Loyal Opposition – II’. The Michigan-based, multi-instrumentalist is ready to
unleash his distinct, indomitable brand of sound and fury; I’m so excited to
see how he has developed since our last peek at his work!
Determined to expand his YouTube viewership, Loyal
Opposition has proclaimed his current goal of vast distribution, hoping to
attract an agent who can help refine his skills.
To help him on his merry way, I thought I’d share my
insights once more and sink my teeth into ‘Loyal Opposition – II’!
*
With this album adopting the same instrumental
approach as ‘The Battle’, we are thrust into the dune-gold gusts of
Egyptian-esque melodies in ‘Byzantine’. The listener is immediately wooed by
the lithe rainfall of the smoke-tinged drumbeat that laces around the entire
single.
Synonymous with Loyal Opposition, of course, every
element of the sultry-spiced harmonies is intelligently crafted to be played
with the sincerest of passions and it serves the hypnotic tonality seamlessly!
When Loyal Opposition delivers the amorous pizzicato
of his guitar, you feel as if you are being told a tale around a campfire - and
alike the earth you would sit upon – the foundation of the track is rich with
culture.
Unexpectedly, the morose timbre of the violin frolics
at the edge of the melody and disappears like a tuneful spectre. I loved how it
added an extra layer of poignancy to the moderato tempos, almost as if the
vivacious façade was falling to reveal a tragedy amidst this narrative.
It would have been brilliant if this wasn’t an
isolated occurrence in the track. I think, by not implementing the violin later
in the single, it detriments the professional finish of the song’s texture.
Although it fits beautifully with the single, it seems like a random addition,
rather than a deliberate construction.
Despite this little nit-pick, I do appreciate the
inclusion of the tambourine towards the end of the track. It adds a coy
quivering that alludes to the vulnerability of the overall composition,
resembling how our histories, once mighty and heroic, can succumb to the
passage of time.
*
Onto the next track ‘What a Day’, Loyal Opposition
concocts a shimmering blend of quaint piano and loud-quiet drums to swell an
atmosphere of looming adventure/discovery.
Unfortunately, as the drumbeat grows more brilliantly
belligerent, the composition of the melody is derailed into cacophony with an
erratic insurgence of effects that seem directionless.
Although it does mirror the unpredictability of a
manic day, I feel like the rhythm would’ve benefitted from a controlled,
refined approach as seen in ‘Byzantine’.
As the snarling guitar and volcanic drumbeat tear at
one another for dominance in the harmonies, the melody is capsized and sounds
like two respective instrumentals were spliced together.
I can appreciate the vigour in which Loyal Opposition incorporates
with that acidic drumbeat, but I am sad to say this track is too callously
strung together for my tastes.
*
The final song I will be looking at from the album is
of the name ‘A Song For John Cassavetes’.
The track starts with a plume of sonorous pulses;
casting a stormy, foreboding ambience that immediately caught my attention. It
exudes an atmosphere of strength and intensity that entices the listener to
work out what every harmony is revealing about this relationship.
Leaping to life with the zestful drumbeat, the melody
is punched with emphatic piano – for me, this almost verges on too much
instrumentation, but – as the track progresses - the pebble-skipping rhythm of
the piano captivated my ears. It was like I was listening to an emotive passage
of time, as the pitch got higher, I felt as if I was hearing how strained the
relationship had become.
The tone was almost poignant, but then weirdly enough,
the composition took a sharp turn and I felt as if I was playing an arcade game
from the early 90s amongst the youthful, 16-bit texture of the melody. Although
I found it quite charming and nostalgic, it didn’t seem to fit seamlessly; once
again, it sounded like two separate pieces had been sliced into one song.
Even after such a jarring change in tone, the melody
changes once more. Slowing into an adagio tempo, the piano and the drumbeat
gambol around each other as if in a romantic union, which actually sounded
quite dainty and mellifluent. The rhythm was roused rubescent and I found
myself wishing the entire track was an expansion of the conclusive segment.
*
‘Loyal Opposition – II’ is a daunting kaleidoscope of
melodies and emotions. Whilst there is slivers of gold amongst the chaos, I
think Loyal Opposition needs to take some time to refine his style, control his
compositions and focus on the story he wants to convey to his fanbase. This is
a classic example of when less is more, and I want to see Loyal Opposition
bounce back and truly rarefy his style.
Till next time.
Loyal Opposition’s Channel:
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