Icarus Phoenix is a musical project led by Drew Danburry, who has independently toured and released music for the last 22 years. With over 400 songs to his credit and more than 800 shows played worldwide, he brings to us his latest work, “I Should Have Known The Things You Never Said” — a semi-autobiographical album that delves into the deepest of his emotions — keep reading for my thoughts!
“I Should Have Known The Things You Never Said” starts off with “The Things You Never Told Me”, a beautifully atmospheric piece that finds its roots in the most organic of sound design — and as the drums and the basses kick in, the atmosphere already builds up to a thing of beauty, laying down the prefect foundation for Drew’s vocals to shine. The guitars ring distantly as he pieces together line by line the melodies — and the express cadence in the drums keep the track flowing smoothly, making for a perfect start to the album.
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“Live. Lose. Love. Grow.”, the second track, Drew turns down the tempo of the music to take a step back, and deliver more emotional impact, while he delves into deeply personal themes in his lyricism; all serving to emphasize the idea that personal growth often comes through pain and hardship. The somber guitars and the deliberated drumming bring a level of dimension of this track that renders it a soulful, beautiful listen that wafts up and down in energy gently, and soothes the listener.
Continuing with his exceptional lyrics, on “High Tide,” the listener is introduced to the overarching themes of modern life’s pressures and the emotional toll of relationships — and as the guitars gently weep in the background, the execution of the lyrics bring but a glimmering tear to the eye — and Danburry, who is no stranger to expressing vulnerability through his music, uses this album as a form of catharsis.
At this point, it seems prudent to speak of the arrangements and the production on “I Should Have Known The Things You Never Said” — the arrangements are both spacious and intimate, allowing the lyrics to take center stage, as is right for themes that delve so deeply personally. The album is a delicate blend of folk and indie rock, with a strong emphasis on storytelling — with skilled guitar work and delectable drumming from start to finish. Danburry’s vocals are warm and smoky, drawing the listener in with a sense of quiet urgency. The production, led by Jed Jones, is subtle in its ways, but nails every mark in terms of the energy balance, the warmth and the easy-listening nature of the album.
We bring “I Should Have Known The Things You Never Said” to a sombre, thought-provoking close with “Kanashimi”, a warm, welcoming track with its warm, velvety pianos and guitars — an instrumental is what this song majorly presents to be, with the sparse lyrics still retaining every bit of the emotional punch that the rest of the album wears so proudly — and all in all, this album is more than just a collection of tracks — it may be one of the finest examples of music that tells compelling stories, from start to finish. What a winner!
Take a listen to the album here:
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