“Work[s] in the indie-psych tradition of the late noughties/early 2010s, adding jazz and baroque pop sensibilities to a more traditional singer-songwriter style,” we wrote of LA-born, Brooklyn-based songwriter Stephen Becker back in August when introducing his forthcoming album Middle Child Syndrome. “An effort, at least in part, to rise above the mundane present, as though to be trapped within conventions is to be restricted by the same inability to communicate effectively that haunts our everyday lives.” Forthcoming on Record Euphoria, the album sees Becker lean into this unorthodox style with an almost stream-of-consciousness immediacy, as though the audience is given a direct invitation into his daily existence.
New single ‘The Answer’ furthers this sound. A disarmingly bright folk song which pairs a relaxed rhythm with altogether more uncertain, agitated lyrics, the gentle vocals only underscoring the authenticity of what is being said. But this carries its own contradiction, because what is being said is an attempt to convey just how difficult it is to explain the truth of one’s feelings. And thus ‘The Answer’ represents a straightforward communication about how it is never straightforward to communicate. “[The song is] about how we often lose ourselves, unable to know what we really want or even how to answer simple questions,” Becker says. “We give answers that we think are true, but in the end are maybe just what the other person wants to hear.”
He’s a mess and sitting there just waiting to be funny
But I’m upset ‘cause no one else knows what exactly’s coming
Take a breath and take a step towards walking, then towards running
With no pretense, a separation forced us not to hurry but I’m worried you’re aloneWell I gave you the answer, I gave you the answer you wanted
Middle Child Syndrome is out on the 25th October via Record Euphoria and you can pre-order it from Bandcamp.
