With a balance of depth and transparency, each song on this record takes notice of the void in which audiences feel the need to fill when looking for new music to listen to. “All at Sea” by daidrum, a title that will be understood in due time, offers a selection of tracks mainly within the genre of progressive rock and folk from a wise soul that is daidrum.
The piano sounds welcoming in “Trafalgar Blues”, which is then followed by the full pack of well-versed sound. It’s a story in itself, as it really inclines on the use of imagination due to some of the lines describing what can be felt by all sense, but in no doubt about the artist’s personal experiences. To add, it seems to tell a tale of youthful years with lines such as “I was scared at sixteen” and an admission of not knowing how he survived, to adulthood and further maturity on the lines about nightmares coming to life.
“Friend by friend, side by side / In the gun room morgue / So many died” and “Why should I live when so many die?” are thoughts and questions bound to cross a person’s mind in time. It’s both a realization and an act of sharing to the world what it’s like to be currently in that state.
Moreover, as if entering a misty environment filled with light, “There for you” comes in with intricacy. It narrates the perception of one that worries and cares for another. It’s heartfelt, as it consists of lines like “We struggle as we try / But I’ll be there for you” and “Lay the coins upon my eye / I’m not there to say goodbye”. As such, it’s a song you’d wish someone would dedicate to you by how sincere it all is. The simple part that states “It’s much better to be alive” is simple yet impactful.
This record also contains tracks that make audiences feel as if they are in a specific ambience and setting. Take “Run” for example. The wind instruments go well with every other component, inflicting an ancient, old-fashioned tune. Plus, the verb could mean anything, making you ask, ‘run where?’. It has a repetition of “Run, boy, run / You’re gonna rule the nation / Run, boy, run / You’re gonna fool the nation”, followed by “Run for your life” and a commentary to top it all off. In the end, the song is all about Shergar, a racehorse, and his tragic fate in 1983.
Likewise, “Salt Requiem” paints a picture of a simple, rustic way of living. Sound-wise, it also encompasses a woodwind-esque element, giving it a nature feel. It feels very close to home in the context of the artist, like a nod to where he came from. Accompanied by a bassline, “Nether Street” shares a similar energy. The title itself seems like it’s referring to a memorable place and experience, as suspected within the lines and question of what ever happened there and claiming that their lives are in that very street.
Going back to more intimate tunes, “Merry go round album – Remix” consists of a chorus of “Love lost / love found / merry go round”, which essentially pertains to the circle of what happens in life – sometimes you get what you want; sometimes you get the girl, sometimes you don’t. Similarly, “Lonely Planet – Remix” feels like it’s imitating an actual conversation between friends, as it contains a lot of reassurance and a sense of companionship. It may also be interpreted as a pep-talk for the self. It’s a lovely, uplifting song: “Don’t you sink in the sand / Don’t you stop to ask why”.
In “Breathe”, acoustic guitar precedes the vocals and the piano. Initially, one may not be able to decide right away if it’s meant to be a romantic or a platonic song – maybe it’s both, maybe it’s versatile like that – but upon listening, it’s definitely leaning towards the romantic kind. Intimacy truly shines through in lines like “Please keep some space in your heart for me” and “Your tiny hands encircle my heart, to hold me forever”. The electric guitar solo is bound to leave you pleasantly surprised, but it doesn’t overpower the major sound, so it still blends in perfectly.
“Song of Time” is filled with what if’s, all the while talking about different known points in time, in other words, history. “What if we met for just one moment?” – the delivery of it all seems to be bargaining, reminiscing, and falling in love all in one. Essentially, it explores the idea of finding each other in different timelines, implying that they are indeed meant for each other. It offers reflection not only for the artist amidst creating it (presumably), but especially to the audience while listening to it.
All in all, this is an album that’s definitely made with passion. There’s seldom creations that excel majorly in sound and in writing, which makes daidrum a great pick for recommendations.
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About the Author
Kate Clarice Lee is a psychology major in Ateneo de Naga University with a knack for music and writing. She takes interest in playing guitar, poetry, creative writing, and lyrics that—subjectively—hit close to home. Kate mostly enjoys indie, alternative, pop & punk rock music.
