Swansea-based singer-songwriter Guy Challenger’s aka Normal Behaviour recently came out with a four-track EP with the same name. He showcases his acoustic-guitar driven, emotive sound in this record, expressing his thoughts through intricate lyricism and heartwarming performances. His delicate vocal tone pairs well with the soft instrumentation on the EP, featuring a smooth blend of dramatic melodies and uplifting ones.
EP Tracklist
Normal Behaviour introduces his EP with “Librarian“. With only a guitar to support his unique voice, the artist sings about his notion of dreams, and the beautiful places they come alive. The simplicity of the composition, its overall ‘raw-ness’, makes the listener feel as though they’re sitting right in front of the artist. His emotional narrative here doesn’t play with solely sad melodies. By touching on motivating and uplifting themes, “Librarian” paves the road for the rest of the EP.
The next track “Prehistoric Weather” begins with a beautifully written melody –”Meteorite strike from the ceiling light / Water floods the hallway / Believe me when I say I’m not alright / Prehistoric weather, there’s no peace when we’re together“. Over a slightly upbeat rhythm, as compared to the previous song, Guy sings in a laid-back tone and delivers a soothing performance. He explores themes of love and loss, talking about some of his experiences; very relatable and honest!
Guy sure loves his guitar! The way he plays it flawlessly here enhances his vocal performance quite well. There’s no doubt that the artist is a great songwriter, as is evident from this next track “Skeletons and Ghostwriters“. With a similar groove, he sticks with the moderately-paced flow of the last track. I don’t know if it’s the excellently written lyrics or the infectious chorus melody, but this track is my favourite one for sure! “But I wasn’t thrown away / Torn by nature, not design / If I had my way the same results will show in time / Shelter me from harm / Shelter me from harm…“
“Normal Behaviour” ends with the very soft, slow, and beautifully mellow track – “Pinball Girl“. He sings a hopeful tune in his heartfelt voice and delivers a moving performance. The guitar plays a colourful progression that sticks to the melancholic feel of the song as Guy sings about a loved one. The relaxed, somewhat dreamy feel of “Pinball Girl” shows that the singer is quite versatile as a songwriter and can capture a wide range of emotions through his compositions.
These four tracks by Normal Behaviour flow seamlessly into one another, making the EP play as a story that is very moving. His baritone vocals have a light and airy quality to them, making his voice especially stand out in the mixes. Guy’s honest lyricism paired with the soothing guitars proves that it doesn’t take a lot of instruments or sounds to tell a story, words and emotions are more than enough!
Listen to “Normal Behaviour” on Bandcamp!
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Discovered via http://musosoup.com
