Coming out with a new EP in the middle of a pandemic has to be rough. Sure, people can cover it for you but you don’t get that giant release party that I’m sure is much wanted. Dave Sandersfeld released ‘Somewhere in the Dark’ this past May and did a live stream release show in support of it. All proceeds went to a Covid-19 Community Fund. I mean, do I really need to say any more? I’m already in love with Dave as a person after reading that in the press release I got and ignored back in May (sorry!) so let’s see if I am in love with his music too!
This five-song EP kicks off with “Blame You”. It takes a second for the vocals to kick (which, let’s be honest, is what I’m always looking for) but, as soon as they did, I was, in fact, in love. There’s a sense of honesty and purity in Dave’s voice. The vocals match the powerful and anthemic instrumentation in the best way. Even with such powerful instrumentation behind him, Dave’s vocals never falter and that’s an element that really sets Dave apart from others in this genre. What genre am I talking about? Well, it’s going to sound harsh and I really don’t mean it to but this opening track is definitely your generic indie sound. Again, I don’t want that to sound like a bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with generic indie music but it is what it is. Even with me classifying this opening track like that, it stands out to me due to the pure power behind everything going on throughout this song.
“Into The Darkness” kicks off with a super fun guitar diddy that I could listen to all day. It’s a fun and carefree feeling and that’s exactly the vibe that happens as Dave’s vocals come in. This was an instant favorite of mine. From the words to the style of this song- it’s just very fresh and free. There’s still an undeniable sense of power in this track but the anthemic power of “Blame You” seems to have been replaced with something a little more tender. Like a warm blanket, this track covered over me and made me feel so perfectly cozy and optimistic about life in general.
A gorgeous piano kicks off “Starting Over” which, if you know me, you know I’m a sucker for parts like this. “Starting Over” takes a somber tone but it’s still a beautiful track. Although Dave’s voice is still crystal clear and full of power, there’s a sense of heartbreak that can be felt in the weight of every word. The tempo isn’t super slow or anything for this track but the weight of the words and heaviness of each note from the band (and piano) just make it feel slower than it is. This is absolutely the type of track that had me drifting off in the best way.
“Holes In Your Heart” kicks off with another piano part. It’s just as beautiful as the beginning of “Starting Over” but a little less powerful. That makes sense because there’s a playful aspect to this track while still having a little tinge of pain hidden in it. You know those songs that make you play through random snapshots of your life that you may have thought you had forgotten? This is one of those songs. It’s very retrospective, sweet, and soft. Dave’s voice dances over what sounds like a slide guitar (sorry if I got that wrong!) with a sense of ease. The beauty in this track is goosebump-inducing and, like “Starting Over”, it had me in a bit of a daze.
Before I knew it, the final track had taken over my house. “World on Fire” ends this quick EP with a more anthemic vibe like what I got on “Blame You”. There’s a triumphant and motivating feeling to this track that ends this album perfectly. A newfound southern-twang comes to the forefront on this track and it’s infectious and perfect. I honestly wish I would have gotten more of this vibe from the previous songs but I also like that Dave didn’t play the rest of his hand until now and I highly doubt he is showing all of his cards even after these five tracks.
Dave has a style. I called it generic indie at the beginning of this listening session but it’s clear he does so much. I stand by what I said about “Blame You” falling into the generic indie genre but Dave Sandersfeld does not fall into that category as a whole. This is a great EP full of so many amazing sides of this amazing musician and his highly talented band. What an amazing trip!
My Favorite Track(s): “Into The Darkness”
For Fans Of: Indie Music With A Twist; Generic Indie Music (again, not a bad thing); Passion and Power
Daydream-ability: 8 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie slept right behind my chair; Autumn ate her dinner
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 6 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Check Out Dave Sandersfeld Here:
Check out ‘Somewhere in the Dark’ HERE!
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