Spencer Radcliffe and R.L. Kelly “Brown Horse”
(Orchid Tapes, 2014)
The topics covered within the 12 tracks of “Brown
Horse” range from understanding and appropriately interacting with the homeless
to simply trying to exist. In essence, artists Spencer Radcliffe and R.L. Kelly
don’t quite have a grasp on anything they sing about and they are quick to let
listeners know.
This is the first split between Radcliffe and
Rachel Levy, who releases music under the name R.L. Kelly. Levy recently
released a split with Philadelphia based musician, Alex G, while Radcliffe is a
multitalented musician who functions as guitar player and vocalist in Best
Witches as well as releasing electronic based music through his solo project,
Blithe Field.
Brown horse is an album that could easily leave
listeners in a teen pop daze but with the help of some slightly off kilter
synth beats and a good mix of stark and honest lyrics from both Radcliffe and
Levy, this album is full of warmth and empathy.
On “My Song,” an intro worthy of a 1980’s sitcom theme
song gives way to Radcliffe sing-talking about an interaction with a man living
on the street. While the piece veers towards the side of slam poetry over
artful loops with lyrics like “I said how’re you living/ He said living like
the living dead/ I said that’s dope/ And then immediately regretted it,” it’s
not gimmicky. This could easily be Radcliffe’s reality. It’s a reality that’s
just steady enough to lull listeners to sleep while maintaining engagement with
every note.
Hypnotizing and thoughtful seem to be a motif for
this album. The end of Radcliffe’s “Tattoo” suddenly slows down, only to add in
an off-beat chorus of “I have your dad’s yellow cup holder/ When we’re 25 years
older/ Meet me in the parking lot/ We’ll hand it off.” Performed in time, it
could easily be an unfeeling, yet catchy tune worthy of radio play. Radcliffe instead gives the piece an
eccentric dose of heart, quietly singing about a relationship that is over but
not forgotten to the tune of a bright Casiotone.
On the R.L. Kelly half of the split, Levy’s
lyricism embodies a character who has no idea what they’re doing or how to make
things work but they’re trying so hard.
“I don’t think you think that/ This will ever work
out/ Cause where are you now?/ You’re not here and that says everything,” she
sings on “I Don’t Like Remembering Anymore” and it’s hard not to adopt the song
as a personal anthem. It bleeds reliability for those who are young, loving,
and absolutely clueless.
“They want to hurt you/ Because they’re hurting
too/ Don’t let them inside/ Don’t let them take control,” Levy resonates,
solidifying “Brown Horse’s” role as the album everyone wishes they had in high
school.
“Don’t let them get you down/ You’re the coolest
kid around,” she continues, and listeners are ready to leave those jerks behind
because a stranger with a pretty voice told them they’re cool.
“I don’t understand what I oughta/ I don’t
understand what I wanna,” Levy blurts out as the final track “The Great Big
World” starts to build. All the while, Radcliffe repeats, in an on-edge
monotone, “Laugh like you care/ laugh like you’re scared.” It’s a frighteningly
honest way to end the album but it seems to fit perfectly. After all, these are
just clueless kids trying to figure out every day contentiously. “Brown Horse”
is an album for anyone who thinks they might be just as lost and just as
caring.
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