Andy Smythe is a London-based artist who is very much in his stride on Emergency, the lead single to his new album known as Quiet Revolution. He has been writing songs and performing in excess of a thousand shows and there is a sense that he has found a sound that suits him very well especially after more than twenty years of songwriting and performing. It is British without being retro in any sense, and on the other hand it is vibrant, self-assured and alive.
What is instantly noticeable is how Smythe is a multi-instrumentalist and not out of place. He can easily switch to guitar, piano, bass, and organ without any emphasis on technique as the main focus. Lead guitarist Paul Challenger is a slight but very welcome addition, adding colour and texture to the emotional appeal of the song. The combination of them creates a pleasantly charming English pop-rock track, incorporating the storytelling tradition of Neil Young with the old-time Beatles harmonies, but all wrapped around a modern production that is more comfortable than polished.
The singing by Smythe is honest and transparent. He does not overuse his voice, which has a four-octave range, but rather fills his role serving the song rather than his talent. Light and melodic lines of guitar present a slight tincture of nostalgic nostalgia, but these never seem retrogressive. Rather, they emphasise the ability of Smythe to honour the influences he was inspired by and retain the voice that is one of his own. As the arrangement develops, the relationship of instrumentation and vocals changes and develops, bringing the listener into a subsuming melodic sublime voyage.
Emergency is so effective as it does not rely on imitation. The echoes of the infectious energy of The Proclaimers or the rhythmic power of Chuck Berry can be heard, however, the song does not become lost in the assortment. This is Smythe's world. The play has finely tuned production it is intimate and welcoming and rough enough to maintain its appeal.
Smythe can be described as a well-read, thoughtful, and structure-aware songwriter and Emergency does not disappoint that. It is an emotional and music-filled experience to the listeners who are tired of hearing the same music. It is the most compelling British songwriting: eclectic, hauntingly mysterious, and human.
