Golden Bloom - Fan The Flames
Not only has talented multi-instrumentalist Shawn Fogel been on the receiving end of musical success for his concept bands The Zambonis and The LeeVees, as a solo artist and playing with various other bands, but now he is the front man to another rising band called Golden Bloom.
Fogel has proven time and time again the talents he possesses as a musician, so in Golden Bloom he is able to demonstrate his increasing skills and his new direction in writing. Fogel is an exceptionally talented songwriter, which has been heard through all his musical outlets. Where the majority of his previous writings were about personal relationships, the material for this release comes from a new way of thinking. According to Fogel on his website, the songs “come from a frustrated optimism, or an optimistic frustration. They're less about what's going on in my head and more about what's going on in our country and our planet.” This isn’t a man content with writing catchy lyrics and choruses you are going to be screaming at the top of your lungs, but a man who writes to be heard and listened to, not just mimicked.
Shawn Fogel is able to weave between various styles of music. With ‘Fan the Flames’ there are some really upbeat songs (‘Doomsday Devices’ and ‘Dead Petals’), plenty of slender slower tunes (‘The Fight at the End of the Tunnel’), anthematic melodies and harmonies (‘The Mountainside Says’), acoustic tendencies (‘EHM’), songs that simply rock out (‘Fan the Flames’) while some that combine all the different elements he has learnt (‘Theme for an Adventure at Sea’). Fogel plays all the instruments, from piano, bass guitar, tenor sax, keyboards, harmonica and drums and does so with such enthusiasm and comprehension of what the song deserves.
If you were not aware of Shawn Fogel and his never-ending musical knowledge, after hearing this adoring record by Golden Bloom, his talents will never be forgotten.