REXEN Delivers Thick Personality and Beautifully Experimental Sound with The Chauffeur

The new album from REXEN is finally here and this is one of the most eclectic and beautifully woven pieces of work I've heard in a long time, combining elements of theatrical and cinematic folk, with all kinds of added common natural instrumentation, and wonderful approaches to lyrics, storytelling, and detail. This is an album that you sort of swim through.

The Chauffeur begins with a track called "I've Found", which not only displays slightly outlandish and experimental approaches to that theatrical folk, but also displays Jazz undertones and a lively kind of energy that feels almost animated and unique.

The song combines keys that give a sense of fantastical attributes, along with beautiful acoustic instruments and loads of percussion that just add layers upon layers of almost worldly feels and vibes to the song.

Amongst all of this, you have this catchiness as well. There's some amazing vocal harmonies and just this sense of pop that lurks beneath the surface a bit.

It comes out during certain sections of the song and brings color to the already very flavorful and outside-the-box soundscape.

I personally love this combination because you end up sort of holding on to it.

"Hollywood", one of the singles released before the full album, is the second track in the line, and it delivers violins and certain kinds of strings that don't really give up a fully orchestrated feel, but more that cinematic backbone.

The vocals, double tracked and giving you these slight pop Indie hooks are absolutely fitting for this music.

This is a record with loads of those kinds of surprises and certainly keeps you on your toes while still giving you tons to chew on.

There are no two songs that are incredibly alike. It is eclectic, a bit diverse, but everything has a consistent and confluent feel throughout the record.

This is an album that you should absolutely dive into and go all the way through in one shop.

Doing it this way gives you the full experience, and it is quite an experience to be had.

The record serves as an outstanding escape, pulling you away from your own life and whatever you're doing, and putting you into this again, semi-fantastical kind of world coated with elements of pop, beautiful instrumentation, and in the underbelly.

This is one of the more experimental records I've heard in a while and, being a fan of the artist, I'm not surprised.

REXEN is someone who is unafraid to write music with way fewer boundaries than whatever you might be used to.

I know this from hearing many of his previous singles, including some running up to this record.

I can definitely say that this album, as a whole, is amazing. Even the songs I have not heard from the record so far are giving me different approaches, colors, textures, and tones to take in.

"My Heart" is one of my favorite songs on the record, showing a lot of personality, giving you lyrics that are a bit vulnerable but also right in your face, at the same time. I like that he's a bit unafraid and how he certainly loves blending that indie folk with a more vintage approach at the same time.

There are lots of world and roots folk elements to this record and some of that comes from the instrumentation. This track also has strings and violins that give an extra depth and bring that certain kind of tone to the song.

Again, having the double-tracked vocals giving you little hooks, even in the verses, is amazing.

"Kiss Me" is the song that closes the record, one of the more theatrical feels, in my opinion, and has deeper tone strings that feel almost like cellos, along with deeper sets of vocals.

One of the things that really sort of hit me about this record is that the songs have a strange way of fitting together. It almost feels like it could be a concept record of some sort.

Each one has a different point of view, perspective, and story.

When you listen to the whole album through, they do fit together and make sense of one another.

This is another reason you should be listening to the full record in one go.

It is about 40 minutes long, spanning 11 tracks and is well worth your time, especially if you want to hear something out of the ordinary. Something that's incredibly warm, and it's tone and textures, tells unique stories, and reaches outside the box, branching out into different territory with each track.

As I mentioned before, I'm a fan of the artist and this record is like the opus.

Definitely check this out and do it with headphones on because it's 100% the best way to listen.

Remember where you heard this first.

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