Dear listeners and readers of Soundville,

Life is a completely unpredictable joke, from events to moods, from irreversible consequences to a huge range of simple choices and melodies. Often a single genre reflects one side of sound, just as a certain mood accompanies specific situations, but have you ever wondered why we haven’t heard an album that reflects all this chaos of life with its quiet corners and crazy waves of energy? And you know, I happened to come across such an album ‘What It Is and What It’s Not’ by Dan Smyth. The beauty of this release lies in the absence of a single genre that shifts one way or another. 10 tracks in completely different influences, with a different set of instruments, textures, and sounds. The lyrics? Oh god! You have to hear how Dan Smyth’s words fall onto the music, sparking completely unimaginable fantasies and thoughts. This album is like a reflection of life, unstable, ever-changing, and absolutely unique.

‘What It Is and What It’s Not’ is Dan Smyth’s third release, and here he reveals himself as an experimenter, as a musician capable of handling any form, sound, or texture. Dan Smyth steps away from the sound of his previous release, leaving behind the soft grooving neon riffs and turning toward absolute freedom in ‘What It Is and What It’s Not’. I suggest you put everything aside and let’s listen to the most striking tracks from ‘What It Is and What It’s Not’. Trust me, this will restart your day. You’ll feel it from the very first track ‘Everybody’s Got Tears’, which seems to prepare you for the unfolding of the sound further. Heavy rock riffs, grooving bass, and bright drums hook you with their rhythm. In this song, Dan Smyth’s vocals sound intimate and close, almost relaxed, and the phrasing grabs you instantly, pulling you into its swinging indie rock sound.

But get ready, already with the next ‘Swimming’ the neon synth will take over completely. The vocals, with light processing and wide choral layers, break apart over sharp and bright electronics, creating a neon cybernetic atmosphere. I love how Dan Smyth’s neon sound blends with a psychedelic mix of pop tones and a subtle echo of rock in the guitars. Incredibly stylish and cool. I can’t skip over the track ‘The News’ with its unique harmonies, dark mix, and standout guitars. The harmonies in this track create a new sonic space, reflecting a sense of freedom. Every bar swirls like a vortex, merges, and transforms to turn into a new sound. If you like music that snaps you out of routine and lets you see the world from a different angle, then ‘The News’ is what you need.

Maybe that’s why the next song ‘Head Make Blues’, with its grooving country rhythm and confident vocals, hits even harder. You’ll find yourself swaying to the beat, rocking along with the melody, enjoying a great folk-country atmosphere. I felt like I was taken back to some wild vacation far out of town. You know, there’s something almost fearless in it. Like jumping into a lake from a cliff. Oh, incredibly cool. Get ready, because right after that, the mystical sound of the track ‘Walk’ blends with spoken word and intriguing harmonies. A light noir atmosphere and the darkness of the street cover you with this track like the night. Flawless.

You’ll feel the melody wrap its arms around your shoulders in the track ‘You Choose’. This hypnotic sound fills the air with a dreamy wave, a sense of reflection, and it almost mesmerizes. Every bar is unstable, on the edge of collapsing, ready to pull you into its experimental kingdom of sound. The unique harmonies create a subtle anxiety of wondering what comes next. ‘You Choose’ is like a leap of faith, you just trust Dan Smyth, his sound, and surrender to the music, not knowing where it’ll lead. It sparks a genuine curiosity about what’s coming. Gentle electronics and soft synth transitions shift into darker tones, creating a feeling of complete detachment. That’s why the final track ‘Khrikaet’ sounds like a mantra, like a passage into another mystical soundscape. The track lasts 7 minutes and 26 seconds, and during that time, Dan Smyth guides you through a mysterious world of ambient and slow sound swirls. A delicate flute blends with rock guitars, a steady drum rhythm, and birdsong, creating the atmosphere of a mysterious eastern night somewhere in another world. An amazing track that leaves a sense of awe after listening. You felt it too, didn’t you? Oh, this incredible journey with the album ‘What It Is and What It’s Not’ really turns your listening experience upside down, offering a one-of-a-kind adventure. Make sure to add your favorite tracks to your playlist so Dan Smyth’s music can set the perfect mood for you. And follow Dan Smyth so you don’t miss any new releases, which are always unique and unmistakable.

Hey Dan Smyth! Thank you for putting out such amazing music and not trying to cater to trends or the dictates of the industry. Your album is pure art, a true conceptual release that you can listen to over and over, discovering new meanings, harmonies, and connections that might’ve slipped past the first time. There’s so much energy and inspiration here, and the structure of the album is genuinely surprising. Just when you think you know what’s coming next – bam! – it goes somewhere completely unexpected. New harmonies, new instruments, new genres, new vocal techniques. I loved how many styles you explore, it’s complex and fascinating. I’m absolutely inspired and completely blown away! I’m definitely going to share this album with everyone so they can enjoy the perfect sound of ‘What It Is and What It’s Not’ too. This was amazing, I love it and I want more! Yeaah!

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With much love,
Soundville