Isak Daun - “Pale Homage”
Swedish artist Isak Daun has just released his slow burning song, “Pale Homage.” This song leans heavily, for me, on the classic sounds of the early to mid 1970s… before everyone had a beard and the worst forms of prog rock bored everyone senseless, except those that had trainspotting as a hobby. It is a psychedelic song that has a strong sense of atmosphere. With distant reverbed guitar and soft pad sounds setting the stage for the rest of the track, Daun leads us on a mellow journey.
The gentle vocal delivery, paired with the dreamy delay effects and breathy backing vocals, adds to the ethereal feel of the song. This is really beautifully mixed and there is no sense of hurry– each sound is there to be fully enjoyed. The slow rhythm created by the drums and bass also contribute to the dreamlike state. The dynamic break has a strong Pink Floyd influence and the addition of fuzzed guitar at the end creates a turbulent atmosphere. Lyrically, the song is like poetry and evokes imagery of longing, but also vivid wonder. Overall, it’s a well-crafted, trippy listening experience.
Daun adds: “Everything is recorded analog and played with musicians that brought this song to life. There is also a story to be found. Something so common but still so difficult to move on from.”