At the end of last year, I fell utterly in love with a tune called ‘Collide’ courtesy of Nashville-based progressive art-rock trio Gentry Blue. Labelling it a “hypnotic, gritty, spacey, alternative-rock adventure,” I’ve been keeping a close eye (and ear) on the band ever since.
‘Fragments’ is Gentry Blue’s highly anticipated debut album, which the outfit has called “a loose concept album about space: both within us and outside of us.” Drawing connections between the outer realms of space and the human experience and fragility of life, the ten-track record is one of the best I’ve heard all year.
An immersive and hypnotic electric violin composition called ‘Eclipse’ gets the album underway, before ‘What Lies on the Other Side’ is introduced. Psychedelic, progressive, and beautifully pieced together, it’s an absolute stunner of a song.
The aforementioned ‘Collide’ comes in as the record’s third tune and ’82 on a 55,’ described by the act as “a lighter moment,” offers some respite from the the album’s deeper, darker themes.
Other personal favourites include the crunchy ‘Think I Might Be Crazy,’ the almost sonically cheerful ‘Lose No Sleep,’ and the epic closing track ‘Cutthroat.’ The entire record, however, is deeply engrossing and absorbing. Just superb from beginning to end!
Serious album alert! Enjoy ‘Fragments’ on Spotify now:
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