The Oslo, Norway based piano man known as Atroxity brings a mix of Elton John style balladry with the theatrical melodies of David Bowie in his latest single “Super High (The Signs Are In The Sky)”.
By all accounts, the song is bare bones as it’s driven primarily the piano and vocals with only some light backup vocals lending support, but it works well. There’s an intimacy to the lack of post-production effects that makes it feel like he could be singing this live directly in front of you.
It’s rare to hear something so okay with being entirely itself without the need of any extra layering of high production values. Even without a drum track, the song holds its own with pop-leaning rhythms coming through each strike of the piano.
And then you dig into the lyrics to find something both personal and cosmically futurist within. “Rootless, aimless, lost for words / I ran, I crawled with no direction” he sings before the first chorus, “Guide me while my eyes are blurred / Please take me under your protection”. Whether he is referring so a cosmic entity or just another person, there’s a solace to be found in companionship with the restful, bouncy melodies that feel homely and warm.
“Super High (The Signs Are In The Sky” is available now on major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and BandCamp. Find the track on Atroxity’s new EP of the same name, available now. This track and more excellent music can be found on the Alchemical Records Multigenere Mixture playlist on Spotify.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
