It’s been quite the year for Joseph Turner & The Dudes of Hazard. What’s more, we didn’t lose a second of it! ‘A New Moon’ and ‘Travelin’ Heart’ provided a fantastic insight into the sort of nostalgic Americana allure that guides the Dutch troubadour, as well as the project’s wholesome and evocative songwriting. Well, ‘The Shadow Remains’ further advances that very same lyrical quality, if ever a tad darker and more introspective. For the first time in Turner’s discography, he’s embracing a more crepuscular, slightly melancholic theming.
Surprisingly, the production behind ‘The Shadow Remains’ doesn’t necessarily follow its literary counterpart. It’s haunting, bold and obscure, even intense at times, playfully contrasting with the meaningful and observant song matter. Moving with kinetic energy, the track uses quiet stomping rhythms and hypnotic vocal hooks to build a leftfield, gloomy aural landscape.
Delving deeper into the lyrical ethos that propels the project, Turner explains: “The song was written while looking back on a period marked by fear, anxiety, and the feeling that something was always lurking around the next corner. Not a single moment or event, but years of carrying a sense of unease that never seemed too far away. The title reflects that idea: even when you move forward, some shadows have a way of following you.” We suspect people will strongly relate to such a powerful record.
Recommended! Discover ‘The Shadow Remains’ now: