James Percival is not holding back on his soul-wrenching new EP, "Curtains Closed." It is a six-track, 24-minute look at grief, recovery, and the weak beauty of human endurance. As dense in many ways as it is expansive, as finely detailed as explosive, the concept EP confronts feelings, memory, and meaning. The emotional center of the EP is the title track, "Curtains Closed." Tender but insistent, it takes in that instance when sorrow becomes almost palpable when the world goes dark and silence roars in your ears. Percival sings the track here with gentle restraint, heavy with significance, a quiet storm of remembrance.
"Curtains Closed" invites you into a deeply personal story. The story takes direction from James' experience of helping his sister continue her fight against chronic illness. The result is a raw, courageous collection that tensions the pain of loss and the gradual return of hope. James shows that he's not afraid to take risks. The opener, "Disembodied," is a spooky, immersive song that sets the mood for the rest of the project. Constructed of layered textures and an unconventional structure, it bends genres but is rooted in heart.
Standouts like "So Many Times" and "Insane" bring the audience further into the artist's psyche. "So Many Times threads morose piano through airy production, tugging at the heartstrings." "Insane, meanwhile, flips the script to a teen tantrum of frustration/longing/surrender, perfectly demonstrating Percival's habit of pairing confusion with coherence." "Curtains Closed" is irresistible because of its palette, its refreshingly inventive production, and its purpose. Every note, every word, feels purposeful. With "Curtains Closed" James Percival is extending his hand to anyone who has felt the crushing despair of seeing someone they love go through something or tried to find peace in the wake of it.
Connect with James Percival: Instagram
0 Comments