Cash O’Brien has crafted a perfect piece of pop fusion with Starting Bell.
Cash O’Brien – Starting Bell
Starting Bell blends elements of electronica, pop, indie, rock and more to make something that doesn’t really feel like any of its composite parts. A tired-and-tested, age-old subject matter (an ode to unrequited love) interpreted in a thoroughly modern-feeling way, I’m reminded of pioneers like Bright Eyes (specifically in their Digital Ash In A Digital Urn phase) and Bon Iver as much as I am of mainstream pop acts like Mika and Shawn Mendes.
Starting Bell manages to feel both cinematic and widescreen but also intimate and tender at the same time – a contradiction that’s hard to get your head around. Electronic drums thump, machines bleep and guitars squeal, all underneath a honey-sweet, dreamlike vocal. This potent mixture makes for a compelling and curious prospect – one that’s extremely difficult to categorize but incredibly easy to enjoy.
Lyrically, the Brooklynite paints vivid pictures with his words, heavily relying on a powerful boxing analogy to detail the aforementioned romantic quandary, which is also mirrored in the excellent music video. A special mention must also be made to the mix. Elijah Judah has done a truly stellar job balancing the myriad parts here, with nothing overdone and not one element out of place.
This self-produced alt-pop masterpiece is like a breath of fresh air and a shot in the arm all at once. Brace yourself because it’s gonna knock you off your feet. However, it’ll also help you back up from the canvas to beat the count – and that’s where the magic happens.
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Words by Greg Hancock
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