Talon David – Such Is Life

Softly spoken instrumentation pairs with forefront and demanding vocal delivery in Talon David’s Such Is Life.

A range of western influences are subtlyt displayed throughout the track. Country and blues techniques are ever present in the lead guitar section, systematically embellishing the harmonic space between piano and voice.

Performatively speaking, the piano sections maintain a rigid and determined classical method of arpeggiating and vamping the chord tones. Coloured extensions of the main harmonic sequence are carefully included for the betterment of the surrounding instrumentation. Though the piano takes a lead role in much of the instrumental performance of the track, it does an excellent job of maintain its role without overstepping into the other musical territory. The most explorative this section seems to get is found in the bridge section where higher pitched diatonic play is used expertly to articulate dynamic control and variance for the whole ensemble.

Modern soul melodic arcs announce the chorus as the whole mix lifts into a choir of reinforcement for the lead. The slow build of simple melodic phrasing before launching into these more decorative and adventurous melodic sections is a stance held across the duration of the piece. Carefully maintaining different levels of withdrawn performance, we witness the vocal lead evolve and develop with the addition of harmonised backing vocals and transitional melisma runs. As it progresses, the track and vocal performance slowly reveals more and more of its presence and control within the work, always suggesting there is more to come and more worth waiting for. The excellent range is shown in the finale with lenience on vocalisation and exploration within the motif, guiding the group and overall tone of the piece.

Such Is Life is a catchy, live sounding take on a modern blues ballad with defined musical influence bleeding in. It fills its runtime with both character and tasteful performance and is memorably well crafted.