Aidan Knight
Small Reveal
Reviewed by: Stephen Krock
Canadian quartet Aidan Knight’s debut album, Small Reveal, is a bit sad. But to quote a very good episode of Doctor Who, “Sad is ‘happy’ for deep people.” If nothing else, Small Reveal is certainly deep. In its lyrics and in its lush, subtle orchestrations. As the band’s front-man and namesake, Knight carries the album respectably as he whisper-sings through words such as “Am I swimming just to drown?” and “Am I singing just for strangers?” Do not come here for cheering up is all I’m saying.
Do come, however, to be gradually transported to a dark, beautiful forest of horns and strings. Gradually, because the album kicks off with more of that blasé singer-songwriter feel. There’s even an actual song entitled “Singer Songwriter.” Aidan Knight’s true strength lies in the power of the quartet, wonderfully mixing a classical symphonic sound with indie Debbie Downer alterna-pop. The band’s full range just doesn’t appear until halfway through the album, where the strongest tracks, “Skip” and “Creatures Great and Small” lie.
Aidan Knight can only get better if only the frontman would sing out a smidge more and if they would just show off their entire wheelhouse from the get go.
Rating: Listenable
