townsppl - “The Neighborhood”

Pittsburgh-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alex Stanton, aka townsppl, has arrived on our blog with the rich and robust sounds of “The Neighborhood.”

The song initially invites you into the production with a lo-fi and stripped-back version of the hook. Stanton instantly wins you over with his warmth, bearing intimate and upbeat vibes that ensure your trust as both a lover of music and an actual human being.

The arrangement expands upon the arrival of the first verse, with a melodic bass line that is sure to tickle your fancy, as it beholds a groove that is warmly reminiscent of Cake. Stanton’s vocal shares this mellow demeanor, wonderfully double-tracked and glowing with tube saturation.

By the time the chorus rolls back around, it has been adorned with gang vocals and it is very easy to imagine the entire neighborhood getting together to sing “The Neighborhood.” Suddenly the moniker ’townsppl’ makes sense, as Stanton devotes a great deal of his time as founder of the Sunburst School of Music, where he has helped thousands of kids and adults in the Pittsburgh area discover their passion for music.

Of course, “The Neighborhood” comes with many aural treasures, some of which are easy to identify, such as guitar and drums and mellotron; however, Stanton is actually an inventor of musical instruments, so it is very likely that a number of these ingredients are not yet available to the public, so you will only be able to enjoy them here.

From The Velvet Underground to Shakey Graves, lovers of music will find something to latch onto within this wonderfully upbeat tune. “The Neighborhood” arrives ahead of townsppl’s forthcoming album, Beyond the Garden Wall. For more details on that, connect with townsppl across the vastness of the interweb: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify | Bandcamp

-HD