Stoneshoes – First Light: A Radiant Leap into Musical Rebirth

From the fire of near-death emerges First Light, the extremely personal and genre-defying debut album of Stoneshoes, aka Nigel Rhys Watson. This nine-track journey is not just music; it's a heartbeat, a reckoning, and a testament to the therapeutic power of sound. As Watson himself describes it, this is an album "as honest as I could possibly be." And that honesty is translated in every note, rhythm, and lyric like the breaking of dawn after a long, dark, rainy night.

A Sonic Kaleidoscope
First Light is a musical melting pot that blends rock, folk, reggae, and psychedelia with ease. The album's genre-bending smoothness is a direct result of Watson's background as a DJ and vinyl aficionado. Listening to it is like rummaging through the dusty shelves of an old record store and discovering a hidden treasure- unexpected but timeless.

The opening track, “Wildfire,” kicks things off with a bang. Its punchy rhythms and intricate instrumentation grab your attention immediately, setting the tone for an album that refuses to be predictable. The energy here is palpable, like a spark igniting a larger flame.

Next comes "Dawn Patrol," which would sound like a nice campfire jam session. Real and endearing, it gives Watson a present – his talent to engage the listener. The melody meanders across the song like a river, slicing through your memory as smoothly as a carving knife.

The Ocean and the Overview
There is a standout track for each album, and for First Light, it is undoubtedly "The Ocean of Infinite Energy." It is not a song; it's an experience. Pulsating with wall upon wall of sound, swelling and mounting like waves on a shore, it will command your attention and reward it on repeat listens.

This is preceded by "Strange," a track that takes a new turn. Catchy melodies and introspective lyrics showcase Watson's songwriter skills. There is something ethereal about this song, as if it's pulling you to another level of existence in the album.

"Overview Effect" is impressive for its constantly changing configuration. Named after the psychological turn that astronauts feel when they observe the world from space, the song captures that feeling of amazement and perspective. Watson's emotive singing imbues the song with human feeling, grounding its cosmic questions in raw, human emotion.

A Tightrope of Emotion
As the album draws to an end, "Tightrope" is an excellent closer. Its pulsating rhythms and passionate performances capture First Light's ascent. There is closure here, as in taking a deep breath after all-day climbing. It's not reaching the peak but relishing the vista in between.

A Journal in Melody
What sets First Light apart from other debut albums is that it is so autobiographical. Watson's words are as if copied from a journal, written in melody and rhythm. The album is a picture of his life at a turning point- a turning point of survival, self-reflection, and rediscovery.

Watson won't be vulnerable, and that's what makes First Light so powerful. It's genuine, it's honest, and it invites the listener to walk a mile in his shoes. It's got a life experience to the music, as if it's been through the washing machine and out the other side turned stronger and more beautiful.

A Luminous Invitation
At its core, First Light is an invitation- to slow down, breathe, and rediscover the joy in simply being. It’s the kind of album that grows with you, revealing new layers with every listen. Whether you’re seeking sunlit rhythms to lift your spirits or introspective swells to accompany a quiet evening, this album has something for everyone.

The Verdict
Nigel Rhys Watson has penned something absolutely beautiful in First Light. It's not an album; it's a manual for the ups and downs of life, a statement of the resilience of the human spirit, and an affirmation of the redemptive nature of music.

In a day of glossy production and disposable singles, First Light is a raw, earnest, and fabulously human piece of art. It's the kind of album you'll have stuck in your head after the last note fades away. So do yourself a favour: press play, close your eyes, and let First Light carry you on its golden ride.

This Week's LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks is all about the alternative exploration with artists like Tic Tic, Matt Basile, and James Perciv

This Week's LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks is all about the alternative exploration with artists like Tic Tic, Matt Basile, and James Percival

Matt Basile - Hang on St. Christopher 

Matt Basile is a singer-songwriter and blues artist with irrepressible charisma. In his latest release, ‘Hang on St.Christopher’ is a conversation with St. Christopher, seeking for protection. With deep tonal grooves, classical guitar melodies, and baritonal blues, the track flows into a pleasing country rock. He keeps the atmosphere mellow and molten, slowly trotting on. It is a retro, old-timer kind of music that puts you into a nice bluesy state of mind. And with this he branches into a weary melancholy that is both refreshing and reflective. 

James Percival - Curtains Closed 

When you think of slice of life songs, James Percival should be the first artist you should think of. His latest release is the ‘Curtains Closed’ EP, a six track collection that explores the aching feeling of having someone you love in the hospital. The title track especially gets into this. A soft, acoustical composition that blends fine lines of piano and guitar melodies to craft a network of thoughts, memories, and feelings. The protagonist beseeches the person in the hospital to get well soon, the things that they can do once that happens, the things that they used to do before it happened. It’s quite beautiful to journey through it all. 

Tic Tic - While the Shadows Grow 

TiktTic is a singer-songwriter and modern folk duo. They have a way of dilating themes in a way that is so artful and pleasing. Their latest release is ‘While Shadows Grow’, the duo project a theatre of style and sonics, building ethereal acoustics into expressive shoegaze frames, electronic elements and deep vocal manipulations. This song, keeping in theme with the title is made to distort the reality of the listener, incept an atmosphere, an emotion that you can viscerally feel and experience. It is alternative folk rock at its best and most imaginative. Listen Now! 

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This Week's LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks create dreamy folk spheres with artists like Paul Claxton, Oaken Lee, Matt Saxton & others

Paul Claxton - Lost & Found 

Singer-songwriter Paul Claxton is known for his soulful flows. Dressed in rich acoustics and led by an immersive vocal line, his soundscapes are affecting, arresting and enchanting. His latest release is ‘Lost & Found’, a lamentous track that explores heartbreak in the aftermath of a memorable relationship. The artist blends raw folk with dreamy planes, both vocally and instrumentally to evoke a trance almost. The song still holds a lot of the romance, the magic, and the fondness that was felt during the love. 

Oaken Lee - A Mountain (an Echo) 

Hailing from North London, Oaken Lee crafts landscapes with his music. In his latest track, ‘A Mountain (an Echo)’, he lets his sound be influenced by naturalistic metaphors. Flowing through moments of joy, perspective, and celebration, he paves the way away from the past, expanding life to become all that it can be. Stylistically, the soft acoustic moments are colored with reggae, and other island sonic gestures. There’s that carefree feeling in his vocals, acceptance of the unpredictability of life as he floats through the song. It is such a light, happy, and buoyant track. Listen Now! 

Matt Saxton - Feel It Again 

Have you ever wondered what the journey of that forever kind of love looks like? In his latest track, ‘Feel It Again’, Matt Saxton traces a lifetime of love. From the exciting, youthful moments, progressing through a life with children, savings, building a home and family. And finally as empty nesters, he falls back in love. This time an evolved love, a sweet companionship that has its own magic and loveliness. His contemplative baritones hold on to that dream, that wise love, and the spirit of romance in a way that makes it meaningful. 

Olav Larsen & The Alabama Rodeo Stars - When The Past Presents the Future 

Olav Larsen flows into an alt country spectrum. With pleasing acoustics phasing into neoclassicals, stream of consciousness lyrics, and slice of life frames of human experiences, he makes compelling musical arcs. In his single, ‘When The Past Presents the Future’, the artist delves into pain in the past, tracking all the ways it manifests in your present and future. His deep, evocative and layered vocal plan presents a beautiful conceptualisation of the title. His baritones are layered with choral harmonies, acapella accents, all of this alongside a soft orchestral instrumental arrangement. With this exploration, he urges us all to become free from the instances of the past and find the light and peace. 

Clara Day - This Wretched Thing 

Clara Day’s vocal expression is like something out of a journal, an intimate flow that blends pieces of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences. It is so honest and heartwarming to take in and get lost in. In her latest release, ‘This Wretched Thing’, a melancholic exploration that is both vivid and blurry. This makes it feel surreal, like you’re in some kind of a dream, a whole different world. The combination of her earnest tones, projected sweetness and the slow progressions into darker spheres of consciousness is so enchanting. Feels new, refreshing, like something you’ve never heard before. Listen Now! 

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