Isolation and altered realities
Anthony Ferraro, aka Astronauts etc., is wizard-like with his astonishing ways of releasing tracks and even albums with little to no media attention and still coming out the other end with some of the best hits over the years. Mysteriously in 2012, Ferraro released a single titled “Mystery Colors” that became a surprise hit of that year. He continued releasing single tracks on and off with collaborating artists until the release of his debut album in 2015 titled Mind Out Wandering. Through his creative takes on indie rock, Ferraro created a sound that people didn’t know they needed to hear. He continues to spark the imagination with his take on indie, R&B and soft rock in his sophomore album Living in Symbol.
A single piano leads the album off on “Symbol Land.” As technology swallows the mind, the outside world is left to starve, it seems, in this soft open. The retro-sounding “Shut My Mouth” plays on the themes of the prior song and really the album as a whole. Soft guitar, layered vocals and a symbol melody drift the listener’s mind to a distant land. “The Border,” smooth in transition from loud bass to notes of jazz and flutes, allows Ferraro’s vocals to change from modern day to the mid-’70s. Psychedelic keys bring the listener into “The Room.” The feeling of entrapment surrounds the singer as familiarity closes in on him.
A classic love song is brought to the listener courtesy of “9 Fingers.” Ferraro sings over soft symbols and light keys to paint the picture of true love. The album continues to follow a rollercoaster type of vibe as each song is filled with highs and lows musically and lyrically. “Fly Over Me” brings the listener down to earth and creates a late night jazz club setting with airy instruments and limited vocals.
The latter half of the album, “Visitor,” “Who I Talk To” and “Stray Observations” all take turns dabbling in and out of Ferraro’s mind. Each having similarities of ’70s and ’80s-like tunes, soul and soft rock combine to create a challenge of being able to escape reality. The album ends with a track titled “Idleness.” What sounds like the end of one’s life is really the start of something brand new for the listener. To take the lessons given by Ferraro found in between the delicate keys and alto-like vocals is the real goal of Living in Symbol, to live in storytelling.
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