A dynamic triumph that spans from inventive electronic soundscapes to invigorating rock energy, All Takes Shape is the new album from Garrett Gleason. Recorded in his Andover, NH-based studio, All Takes Shape features Gleason on all instruments — audibly channeling the emotions involved in becoming a father. He describes the output as “my musical offering to my newborn daughter, written and recorded all during the pregnancy.” Gleason’s prolific prior output — 18 albums across 4 labels — captures a variety of musical ideas and styles, and All Takes Shape now succeeds with a cohesive sense of unity, in both its overall instrumental sound and introspective personal reflections, which include sobriety, anxiety, and other life landmarks, in addition to becoming a dad.
“In hoping I would be a father one day, I’ve always pushed myself to have a catalogue of music that pushes myself to my limits creatively, chases my imagination as far as it can go, and covers as many bases as I am inspired to cover,” he explains. “When learning that the day would in fact come, however, a new priority surfaced: I needed to make a collection of music that captures all of me, something I can show my child and say, ‘THAT’S your dad’. What followed was the creation of music I feel I’ve secretly always wanted to make and a sound I feel may resonate with more people.”
Opening track “The Thing that Does It” sets it all into eclectic motion — venturing seamlessly from quaint acoustic/electro convergences into starry-eyed electro-pop serenity, and then a second half that dazzles with soaring rock-forward guitar reflections. The ensuing “Lightning from the Chest” struts a brisker charm, infusing what resembles chiptune-like nostalgia with jazzy rhythms and prog-friendly guitar dexterity. The album certainly impresses in its vibrant efforts, from “Ten Seconds to Myself Every Two Minutes” to “Pure Nerves!”
In the moodier spectrum, tracks like “Absolutely Sure” also enamor. Its twangy guitars build with heartfelt appeal into glowing synth radiance; the percussion intensifies in the second half, though the track still maintains a forlorn, sunset-friendly feeling in its twangy guitar delights. Album finale “Seat’s Yours” is another more subdued highlight, weaving trickling piano and orchestral-like resonance for a grandiose, emotional send-off to this touchingly memorable album from Garrett Gleason.
Stream the album ahead of its August 1st release date, below:
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An album track and others featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
