This new release from Wryn is appropriately called Slow Down, as that’s exactly what it forces you to do. In fact, the simple acoustic opening slows you down and then when Wryn’s voice joins it twenty seconds later, the song stops you dead in your tracks completely.
They’re soon joined by an understated, shuffling drum kit, played by JT Bates, layered backing vocals and atmospheric bass and brass from Mike Lewis as the song builds. With each new layer, with each new wave of added instrumentation caressing the shore of the song, a whole new depth is added and a whole new world revealed. “Turn around and body is floating”, Wryn sings early on, and with this heavenly ghost of a song, you will be floating the whole time that you’re listening, as well.
Just as quickly as the song has started, it stops again. The easy tide of Slow Down eases away from the sand, and you may just realise that you’ve been suspended in mid-air, holding your breath in shock at the beauty of the piece for the last two minutes. Now that it’s over, you can start breathing again, but you’ll also find that only listening to this song once is not enough. You’ll want to dive back in. Two plays will quickly turn into three and three easily into four.
There is something of Sharon Van Etten in Wryn’s voice, and whilst the pair share a quiet power, they wield the weight of their voices in different ways. Van Etten can be explosive, and shock you with her dynamism, but, here, at least, Wryn is doing something more quietly devastating. Something beautiful. Take a moment to slow down, and listen to their new release, Slow Down.
Written by Matthew Ingate
