Tia McGraffâs EP With Love serves a dual purpose straight out of the gate, before anything else, of serving up an EPâs worth of songs for newcomers to and longtime fans of McGraffâs music. The second thing it does is serve as a memorial release of sorts to honor the anniversary of McGraffâs dog Jake dying on the EPâs release date of September 3rd. It doesnât mean that With Love is a morbid or depressing affair.
Quite the contrary. No one can say that this seasoned songwriter and author views the world through rose-colored glasses, but she isnât succumbing to self-pity and despair, however. McGraffâs seven songs for With Love look at the world through positive prisms rather than mirrors or their own navel and itâs a quality obvious from the first. The title song embodies it better than most, as well.
The embodiment begins seconds into the performance. She marks her first mark on listeners in much of the same way she has for the last fifteen-plus years. Pulling that sort of consistency off is laudable enough but keeping things fresh on top of it distinguishes the songs in a way few other performers can match.
The piano playing during âClockworkâ has a cascading-like effect that gives the cut a memorable melodic lift. It doesnât go overboard, however, thereâs no overkill, but McGraff definitely achieves a full and robust sound worthy of her vocal and lyrics. It isnât the music alone that has sustained her nearly two-decade-long recording career and her poetic imagination hasnât yet peaked. Later songs, as well, testify to that.
âGo Your Own Wayâ is the EPâs first single and absolute barnstormer of a track. It doesnât have that effect on listeners through tempo, mind you, but rather than attitude and cumulative sonic impact. It is uptempo and the recurring chime in the arrangement counterpoints McGraffâs voice. Her voice sparkles and the energy popping from every line is natural, never forced. It is a clearly wise track to push as the EPâs lead-off as it pushes McGraffâs strengths with a vigorous performance.
âSometimes Loveâs Like Thatâ alternates between band-led and spartan passages sustained by little more than McGraff;s voice and an acoustic guitar strum. Well-timed drumming sets a tone for the former and exquisite yet never omnipresent piano playing helps flesh out the overall performance. Itâs one of McGraffâs best vocals, as well, especially thanks to the nuance she invests into her phrasing.
âNight Hawkâ is the zenith of McGraffâs poetic aspirations on With Love and as fine an invocation of the Muse-figure as you will read/hear in modern literature. This figure manifests itself in countless ways, both for individual artists and throughout history, and McGraff deserves particular kudos for possessing both the technique and imaginative force to craft one of her own out of longstanding poetic lore.
It is enjoyable musically, as well. With Love is a brief and relatively quiet release, but Tia McGraff leaves no stone unturned in attempting to realize its potential.
More info: MTS Management Group
michael@mtsmanagementgroup.com
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