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Having toured the length and breadth of the country in recent months, September sees the fruition of a creative partnership between Mike Rosenberg and Andrew Phillips with the release of Passenger’s debut album ‘Wicked Man’s Rest’. At first glance you might be forgiven for thinking that this is just another one of those middle of the road, whimsical, going nowhere albums. But play it again and it becomes obvious that Passenger are more than your average singer-songwriter, acoustically centred outfit.
Beginning with the album’s title track, which is lyrically busy, naturally flowing and persuasively intriguing (containing samples of Allen Ginsberg’s thoughts about the growth of consumerism), the album immediately takes on a beautifully bittersweet identity and is the perfect introduction for what’s to follow. At just 22 years of age, Rosenberg’s youthful outlook, combined with Phillips’ extensive experience of composing soundtracks for film and television, culminate in a mature and fresh take on life. There is no over riding or progressive theme in ‘Wicked Man’s Rest’, it’s essentially an album built on observational storytelling, in which everyday situations, thoughts and feelings about love, loss, regret and hope are conveyed through non-judgemental social commentary, insightful lyrics and considered instrumentation.
In fact one of the bands greatest assets is their ability to inhabit and bring to life easily recognisable characters; not the by-product of over active imaginations, but normal people, the kind you see through a pub window on a Tuesday night. Despite an inherent and underlying innocence, Passenger’s music is anything but naïve and the band collectively present their material with an extremely intimate, natural and emotionally attached understanding. Passenger is a band that are constantly looking to, fighting for and championing the under-dog. Melancholy is replaced by empathy and the characters depicted in the songs are given a voice and a platform in which to highlight their struggles.
Songs such as ‘Walk You Home’, ‘Walk In The Rain’ and ‘Table For One’ not only belie Rosenberg’s age, but also illustrate a stunning vocal ability, which is complimented by an intelligent score; resulting in a mixture of acoustic folk and beat poetry with a modern edge. Its not all acoustic guitars and traditionally constructed songs, the likes of ‘Things You’ve Never Done’, ‘Four Horses’ and ‘For You’ use haunting and piercing strings and piano alongside sparse samples, blips and bleeps to create and build a simplistic but brooding and in parts spine tingling atmosphere. The overall effect is extremely captivating and at times deeply contrasts with the lyrics, such as in ‘Stray Dog’, which despite its upbeat nature is full of longing and regret and it works again and again throughout tracks like ‘Do What You Like’ and ‘Needle In The Dark’.
Passenger don’t necessarily write about what they know, it’s more a case of writing about what they see and with a deep and natural understanding it pays off with the promise of more and better to come in future. But for now, ‘Wicked Man’s Rest’ is an admirable debut that should go far in establishing Passenger as a band to be reckoned with.
