One thing that struck us about Derby Hill is his complex, observant songwriting. He’s somehow able to narrate evocative tales against a backdrop of societal and economic decay. It’s a heartfelt peek into a blue-collar family lifestyle, information that’s particularly poignant and relevant, given Hill’s Detroit roots. Eponymous EP ‘Derby Hill’ is the perfect evidence of that, a stream of sonic goodness that engages in both simplicity and complexity. On the one hand, the record’s arrangements are gently drawn out in flowing Americana and emotive alt-folk material. On the other hand, Hill’s vocals trace a meaningful and introspective journey into economic struggles and poverty-stricken families.
It’s fair to say that there’s a keen dualism in it all, a tension between the EP’s instrumental restraint and its songwriting urgency. Featuring five tracks, ‘Derby Hill’ unfolds with sobriety and hypnotic allure, with acoustically-driven production putting Hill’s raw, nuanced vocals at the forefront. That’s the way it should be, and perhaps the only way to deliver such wholesome and melancholic material without descending into gloomy, dark territories. Instead, we get served a compassionate, mellow EP.
Delving deeper into ‘Derby Hill’, the American talent explains: “These are songs of families trying to survive the day. Songs of losing people you love. Songs about stepping forward even when it feels impossible to do that. These are songs of reconciliation and redemption. This music is not clever or hip or postmodern: it is Neo-sincerity.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Derby Hill’ EP now: