Review: "Autumn Ruminations", "Fool", Yeti Demos II", and "Love to Give" EPs by Cooper Chasse
/
“Autumn Ruminations” offers a looking-back beauty, proving Cooper Chasse to be an exceptional storyteller. Neatly summarizing the state of the world without directly alluding to it, the collection is aptly named for there is an autumnal beauty about it. With these songs focused on a sort of reflective stance, the pieces unfurl at their own pace. Here he employs a slower, more delicate approach with the guitar as everything has a hushed awe about it. Lyrics feature small moments that make up a life from standing out in the street to watch the fourth of July to the way that one gets inside their own head, trying to dissect what just happened to them.
The reference point here is one from a bit of a while ago, specifically Red House Painters’ “Down Colorful Hill”. Like that release, there is a hint of thoughtfulness behind it. Gestures here are kept to the essentials and volume is not a must, for these are songs that are perfect for listening to after a long hard day and simply wanting to fully get away. Cooper’s voice here has an unvarnished tenderness to it, for the lyrics have a sense of poetry to them.
On “Tonight” the collection begins with a hushed awe to it. Cooper sings it earnestly and honestly for the lyrics touch the very soul. By far the very core of the whole collection comes from the angelic “Autumn Ruminations I & II”. Letting things sprawl out a bit, he manages to explore a certain sense of wonder.
Relationships here rest in the very heart of the matter, as Cooper’s expressiveness and the carefully considered flourishes have a sense of serenity to them. Guitar work in particular has a gorgeous touch to it, for the pacing proves to be pitch-perfect. Careful elements come together on the balance of “Autumn Rumination III”. Here Cooper references the zeitgeist indirectly, allowing for large bursts of colors that feels outright vibrant. The song unfurls at its own pace as there is a sense of community that comes into view.
Cooper Chasse carves out a gorgeous spry little series of vignettes on the lovely “Autumn Ruminations”.
Stream and Share “Autumn Ruminations” on: Apple Music | Spotify
Cooper Chasse shows the power of minimalism on the bountiful “Fool”. Experimentation occurs in the smallest of ways, from the tuning of the guitar to the way he lets the sound build up. There is an adventurous spirit that guides the entirety of the collection while he utilizes every single resource at his disposal while keeping things so clean. Within such a pared-down set, he manages to cover quite a bit of terrain. A careful storyteller he lets these narratives grow and elaborates upon the many details, with every verse weighted for maximum impact. Here he takes a few risks with the pace, with the tempo, and with the texture of the guitar chords themselves resulting in a series of unexpectedly joyous twists.
In terms of its ambition, Cooper Chasse’s work recalls a bit of the Microphones in terms of its unusual approach. Like the Microphones, he allows a series of hypnotic little elements to grow and build themselves into outright bursts of color. Beyond this, his close, powerful voice does feel a bit reminiscent of early Mountain Goats at their absolute best and most raw. There is a grit here behind what he does, even as his voice tries to remain strong. A sense of vulnerability works absolute wonders for the way the sound unfurls gives it a small sense of majesty.
A fragile introduction opens the collection strong with the passionate “Idol”. Little moments are celebrated in full on the tenderness of “Sometimes”. Small traces of true longing come through over the course of “Sometimes”. A surprisingly brisk pace gives “Frida” a loving, tender tone as he lets his hair down just a little bit, as the guitar work flutters on by. Going in the opposite direction “A Creature Well Lived” has a dreamy cadence to it all for it swirls about in a fantastic haze, making it easily the highlight of the entire journey. Bringing it all home in the delicacy of “Fool” which ends things with such power.
“Fool” presents a rather thoughtful tenor, one that highlights Cooper Chasse’s uncanny ability to find serenity in the still air.
Stream and Share “Fool” on: Apple Music | Spotify
Cooper Chasse offers up a fiery, passionate performance on the lo-fi intimacy of “Yeti Demos II”. Vocals here have an intense, clear-eyed focus to them recalling elements of the blues that filter into the fray. By keeping things fully felt there is an urgency that helps to tie the whole of the collection together. His guitar playing has a fierceness to it for the chords sing up into the sky with a sense of true catharsis. Within the entirety of the collection Cooper pours out his very heart and soul, making the journey one that feels so vivid.
Over the course of the collection one particular source of inspiration rings true, specifically that of Elliott Smith’s “Roman Candle”. Cooper channels Elliott’s spirit in a number of ways, from the raw sense of place that the pieces pervade to the way the songs have a quiet fury about them. At any moment, the tension feels like it could practically explode. Yet, like “Roman Candle” Cooper keeps things calm, cool, and collected, while teasing the possibility of an outburst to lend the entirety of the trip a sense of purpose.
Things start off on a spirited note with the gracious guitar licks of “Breathe” where there is a certain cathartic presence about the entire thing. His voice has a commanding presence to them, with his lyrics cutting right down to the very bone. Vulnerability reigns supreme for the word choice revels in the outpouring of his very soul, as he explores longing in full. Gentle in tone “Follow” has a playful quality to it, as the pastoral beauty of the track lets in so much springtime sun. Going for a contemplate tact, “Keep On” features some rather lush guitar work, as there’s a sense of hope and purpose that runs through the whole thing. By far though the highlight comes with the fantastic finale “Lessons”. Here he appears to touch upon some sort of classic folk magic as there’s an affectionate quality to the way it all unfurls.
“Yeti Demos II” shows off the undeniable deft skill of Cooper Chasse in exploring a world that feels truly and fully lived in.
Stream and Share “Yeti Demos II” on: Apple Music | Spotify
A stripped-down soulful piece, Cooper Chasse explores an intimate spirit with “Love to Give”. The pathos with which he plays the guitar grants it a tremendous undeniable power. Every gesture fully considered; the way the thing sings alongside him feels outright magical. By far though the true heart of the entire sound comes from the expressiveness of his voice. He conveys whole lifetimes within these pieces each one of which has its own narrative. With a literary flair to it all his careful character studies have a poignancy to them. Vast space proves to be an important ally within the sound as he ensures that the whole collection has a sense of place behind it.
Cooper Chasse has a sense of purpose that drives these pieces forward. Not in any sort of pounding drums sort of way, it is rather more of a vision. His cadence and delicate work recall the poetic beauty of Nick Drake for the songs have such depth despite their minimal origins. Within this, his sound has a bluesy quality to it for he pours his entirety into these tracks. Guitar work recalls a bit of John Fahey’s careful ragas, as the gestures matter when they are taken in as a singular whole.
“Morning Song” opens things up with a bit of early sunlight entering into the sound. There is a meditative quality that comes from it as he reflects upon all those he’s met and those he has yet to meet. Passionate to its core “To Have” has an intense romanticism to it, as the song takes its time in evolving ever so gingerly. Pastoral imagery is at play on the outright pretty “To Hold”. Vocals work wonders on the spaciousness of the title track “Love to Give” by far the highlight of the collection, as the song feels drenched in light. Delicate phrasing adds to the hushed reverence of “Stay”. Quite lovely, the soulful “One” neatly ties together all that came before it.
Reflective and outright stunning in its simplicity, Cooper Chasse proves to be an important addition to the singer-songwriter tradition with “Love to Give”.