Dundee singer-songwriter Sean Findlay has released his first solo record, The Unplugged EP, and it’s a cracker. Comprised of three new original tracks and a stripped-down version of his first debut song, Living God, the EP is a charming addition to the acoustic music field.
Formerly the frontman for the contemporary three-piece band Catch, who played nostalgic, 60s inspired music, Findlay has taken the solo route but remains true to the foundations of Catch’s music.
‘Timmy Tom’ pushes the record to a lively start. It is a fun, catchy tune that reminds you of that song at a gig that the audience just waits for, and once it comes the crowd is bouncing and singing along to every word. The lyrics are captivating, the track has the perfect balance of lyrical storytelling and accompanying guitar in the background. You end up being very intrigued of said Timmy Tom; perhaps he is one to be feared.
One of the best on the EP has got to be ‘Try So Hard’. It starts off very subtle with the quiet, stunning guitars. For a while, you kind of get drifted into the dream of the song due to the heartbreaking yet gentle lyrics but it picks up halfway through with the perky guitar and piano instrumental, which is divine. The moment is short and sweet, but both instruments work so well together in that forty second segment of the track.
When first listening to the track ‘Time Wasted Memories’, It sounds not too dissimilar to that of the Beatles. However, the more into the song you listen, the more distinctive to Findlay’s set style it becomes. The acoustic guitar paired with the electric is beautiful; they’re in harmony with each other - just like the vocals. The addition of the cheerful piano makes the song that little bit sweeter whilst not becoming a cheesy, lovey-dovey song. It’s clear Findlay is an expert in crafting the perfect balance of components.
The last track on the EP is the stripped back ‘Living God’, which maintains the same feel-good ambiance that the original created, just with fewer instruments. The vocals on this song paired with the upbeat electric guitar grooves make this track excellent. Findlay’s voice is gritty and mellow at the same time. The faded “ooh” and “aah” vocal melodies in the background maintain the dream-like feel that the whole record, along with Findlay’s artistic personality as a whole embrace.
This set of four songs go so well together, each strike a mastered balance with the other and offer something different; different stories and different melodies that overall go in harmony. It can definitely be said that Sean Findlay is proving that he is a professional at the acoustic genre.
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