Espialist is Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist & songwriter Michael Wall. I must say, Michael seems to keep his cards pretty close to his chest. By the looks of things, he’s involved in a few different projects at the moment – ‘Goldbloom’ is the new single from his Espialist moniker.
The song immerses you immediately – a piercing solo vocal quickly gives way to an atmospheric post-rock groove. The slow, deliberate tempo is never plodding, but emphasises the drama and allows us to absorb the simple, repeating guitar melody punctuating the calm.
The rhythm section has as many gaps as hits – and its calm power is like a big cat carefully stalking its prey.
Michael’s vocal delivery & tone has a wonderfully expressive character – it reminded me of vintage Alice in Chains. Every drop of feeling is squeezed from each word – each syllable.
The abstract lyrics have a darkness that seems to question truth, and reality itself:
“A life, A lie
Which is which, we never knew
Look back at all other times
When the dread pulled through”
A dramatic pause in the action is really nicely judged and brings everything back to a single focal point. The guitars echo across the landscape, and the vocal returns as a sort of choral, sacred chant:
“Healer, we’re on red alert
Severed, from our ties to this earth
Weathered, by the right to be heard”
I loved the spacious mix and the lush, warm sound that seems to be melting towards the song’s conclusion. Like an ancient melody reaching out from the past, ‘Goldbloom’ is beautiful, haunting, and powerful.
Written by Grubby
