Album Review/ Rock : Dave Lebental’s ‘Stylus’
Dave Lebental and Karma Train have released their latest album, ‘Stylus’. A classic rock, blues, rock n roll collection that gets retro and fun. It takes you back to artists like Queen, The Beatles, David Bowie and other groovy 70s legends. It’s a whole lot of fun, with playful and dynamic grooves.
When you listen to the album, you’ll realise that it’s not just music but an atmosphere, a state of being. It takes you back to the culture of rock when it came to be. It wasn’t just music but a way of living. This album is immersed in that spirit of things. There’s drama, theatrics, a performative charisma that just lifts into the sound and transforms it.
In tracks like ‘Addition by Subtraction’ and ‘I Can Always Count on You’, we see an energetic culture. The vocal charisma especially stands out in these tracks, becoming an instrument of its own.
‘Mulberry Drive’ and ‘Hopium’ showcase a progressing theatrical gradient. The performance scales, absorbing and presenting emotions in real time almost. Sparks of feeling and evocation are all over these soundscapes. There are some modern elements also in these tracks. Some of its parts have an operatic feel. Think Panic! At the Disco. That modern pop rock is such a fun and addictive pocket to fall into.
Tracks like ‘Race to the Bottom’, and ‘You Figure it Out’ have a feel good vibe. Lilting and warm, classic with a vulnerability that you can surround yourself with. It has some country themes and that chill reggae rhythm signature as well. ‘Mindy Please’ also has a soft reggae influence to it but it bleeds into the more dominant funk complexity within the track. It’s got so many layers of sound and style that it might just be this writer’s favorite track in the album.
Overall, the artist has such a multi-faceted style. Neither his vision nor his production value stagnates at any point. All the tracks are a journey that drives more towards a sophisticated nuance and freshness that you want more of. There is a nice nostalgic and retro spin to it. But also a modernity that compels you to look a little closer. It elates and surprises you. In the best way. Listen Now!
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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music!
You can listen to ‘Stylus’ by Dave Lebental here -
