Diving into ‘greyhound | fern | swallowtail | apple tree’ is a rather peculiar experience, an aural universe that evokes heartwarming imagery and even a certain intimacy. Awashed with tame melancholia and a hypnotic, hazy allure, the album has been captured in true acoustic fashion, with tender guitars and orchestral strings at its forefront. Oscillating between pop and folk, the record serves as a notable thematic umbrella for HMS Beckett’s meaningful songwriting. While ‘greyhound | fern | swallowtail | apple tree’ is not out yet, we feel it might be worth drawing attention to the project, celebrating its refreshingly genuine appeal.
HMS Beckett has placed a lot of attention on the lyricism surrounding the record, penning positive and lovable streams of consciousness, a series of nuanced reflections that feel authentic and honest. Most of all, they all appear effortless, even casual at times, as the British musician embraces his own wisdom with confidence and quaint restraint, as well as a profound connection to Mother Earth and nature. As Beckett explains: “These songs are my evening journalling, uploaded as soon as they feel complete. They are songs with the theme of the beauty of the natural world, set against the climate emergency. Heartbreak and hope.”
As we are told, ‘greyhound | fern | swallowtail | apple tree’ was originally born during a period of profound artistic inspiration, with the York-based creative penning thirteen songs over the course of two weeks. This is a feature that speaks volumes about the relatable, grounded character behind Beckett’s upcoming album. In fact, we’d argue that the whole record acts as a vivid snapshot of a particularly nostalgic and introspective phase of its author… one that feels both personal and relatable.
Recommended! ‘greyhound | fern | swallowtail | apple’ is due out on August 8th. Stay tuned!