Love is definitely in the air on this latest album from Byorn Gold, but as he has proved in the past, his songs aren’t blind to the realities of life, longing, and relationships. There is a maturity running through the heart of every song, and while he can celebrate and serenade, the sentiment often comes from that same place as Neil Young‘s iconic song extolling love experienced later in life, “Harvest Moon.”
As is often the way with Gold’s albums, there are visible chapters, essentially three four-track eps which, when put together, follow an emotional arc and complete, in this case, the emotional cycle of love and romance. In Charisma, we find songs of first feelings, attraction, and a growing attachment. Conflict, the next quartet of songs, deals with the realities of a relationship’s ups and downs, and Commitment contains songs that remind us that once you get past the process of learning about each other, and perhaps learning more about yourself along the way, that is when you can truly devote yourself to the relationship.
With “As Long As It’s You” opening the album, we are reminded of what a succulent style of pop (in the broadest sense of the word) Gold trades in, here riding a Latin sway and oozing soulfulness. It also reminds us of the vulnerability that runs through his creations; here, both potential lovers are honest about their desires but also their own shortcomings. This kicks up a gear with “Come and Get It” and an unabashed statement of being ready to fall in love put to a funky-pop upbeat groove.
“Lover” is a more traditional soul ballad, gentle, understated, and sparkling with cascades of guitars, a cinematic slice of understament with slightly 70’s vibes whose space and lyrical intimacy result in a warm, romantic, and deeply expressive song, a sonic touch and sentiment that is also echoed in the imploring “The Night Belongs to Us.” Between these two succulent and seductive songs, “Let’s Get Lost” comes as a remarkable change of pace — literally—an upbeat, effervescent call to romantic adventure, a timeless indie-pop tune with a groovesome heart.
“Last in Line” steps things up even further. Byorn Gold is not an artist who gets stuck in one genre, and here the rock drive and sonic weight are perfect for expressing the frustrations that come with unrequited, or at least one-sided, love. Guitars spin and spiral ornately, beats drive, basses pulse, a fist-in-the-air anthem if ever there was one. “Fight For You” also follows a similar vibe, showing that having shown us that he is a master of the literary and expressive lyric; he is equally at home with the punchy singalong.
And that adventurous, creative nature is further borne out by the dancehall ska vibes of “Confrontation,” where the other side of the relationship coin is explored. “Sparkle” feels like, if it were moved from its liquid guitar delivery and rendered into a piano piece, it could very well have been a hit for the likes of Billy Joel back in his golden age. Not that it isn’t perfect as it is, rich and rewarding, lush and loving, but it does make an interesting reference point. Oh, and the saxophone work is sublime.
“Let’s Meet Each Other” feels like the sort of thing that The Beach Boys might have come up with in their later career, those post Brian Wilson years when the cars and girls and surf were put behind them, and other members of the band emerged as talents in their own right. The vocals are lush, the guitar work sublime, the soulfulness unmissable. “You Know” flits by on a delicate West Coast pop haze.
“Will You Hold Me When We Get Home” is the perfect way to round things off, one of those songs that is both wonderfully romantic and speaks to the comforts of being with someone you know so well that you can be your unguarded self around. Something that only comes with age.
Byorn Gold always delivers albums that set high benchmarks in lyrical depth and musical adventurousness. With Ambrosia, with its maturity and honesty, not to mention the broad range of styles he seamlessly moves through, he has arguably reached his creative peak. Although possibly only until the next album is out.
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