I worry when an artist claims to blend “folk, rock, electronic, and hip-hop elements” in a track, because meshing so many genres like that together can often lead to a bit of a mess. This is not the case with Alex Irvine’s “3 FEET FROM GOLD”, an intoxicating song released in the run-up to his album Safe as Oat Milk. Irvine weaves elements from these musical styles together into a shimmering landscape of sound.
Hailing from Norfolk, England, Irvine is a multi-instrumentalist and independent producer who’s made quite a bit of music under various monikers over the years. He makes much of his music from his home in Norwich, where he shapes sounds and crafts beats that trickle through the ears to tease the brain.
On “3 FEET FROM GOLD” especially, Irvine’s ability to twist sound and style shines. String samples lay on top of reversed synths and plucked banjos as his voice wavers, its timbre shifting with every new verse. The layers build throughout the song until its final minute, when it explodes in a rock-heavy outro rife with solos from guitar and bass and an orchestra like something out of “A Day in the Life”.
The progression of the song makes it feel like it’s taking us on an adventure toward a grand prize, which the title suggests. Irvine’s track is a wonderful three-minute musical journey, one that combines styles like a quest might take a traveler through various locations and challenges. And in case you’re wondering if we ever get closer than “3 FEET FROM GOLD”, the answer seems too obvious: Perhaps the song was the gold the whole time.
Take a listen to “3 FEET FROM GOLD” below.
Written by Will Sisskind
