We are rather familiar with Kevin Driscoll. In fact, Mesmerized was writing about ‘The Maine Thing’ back in September… looking back with observant attention, it’s immediately clear how Driscoll is on a mission to unveil a personal, contemporary brand of Americana. His music is certainly steeped in tradition, but also in modernity, with frequent electronic textures giving his records an unexpected twist. ‘Last Ditch Effort’ is the perfect evidence of that, a dark folk and Americana piece enriched by a constant, minimalistic beat and gloomy orchestral atmospheres.
It all serves an important purpose: creating a liminal, nocturne and poignant aural space for Driscoll’s nuanced and jagged vocals, as they weave in and out of the picture with unmatched charisma. Kevin delivers his line with heightened intimacy, as if he were talking to a close friend.
This adds to the urgency and intensity of the track, as confirmed by Driscoll himself: “There’s a somberness to the tune that’s palpable. It’s a reflection of being just about out of rope, out of hope, out of your mind, but still feeling compelled to try, just one more time…it’s a last-ditch effort.”
As always, Kevin is accompanied by sound engineer Richard Dudley and mixing/mastering expert Jeremiah Johnson. It’s perhaps fun to notice the ethereal vocal effects added by Johnson, greatly raising the record’s raw, melancholic character.
Recommended! Discover ‘Last Ditch Effort’ on Spotify:
