Adam Dodson, who performs with the Austin, Texas-based atmospheric post-rock group Zealand The North, has crafted a piece of poignantly shimmering ambiance for his new solo single “Normal As We Knew It.” The track appears on Dodson’s forthcoming full-length album, The Risk Of Dreaming, which he’s releasing to the world on March 19.
Get a first listen below to “Normal As We Knew It”!
Dodson is premiering a video for the moving track via YouTube, and the premiere is embedded below and shortly going live, alongside a Bandcamp track embed.
The tranquil song begins with resounding keys, and after about half a minute, Dodson introduces peacefully plucked, shimmering electric guitar as the keys continue. There’s a real sense of immersive atmosphere in the sound — the song feels lush and inviting, like the musical reflection of a foggy field on a bright summer morning.
As the track proceeds, Dodson grows the sound, adding a steady synth rhythm and broadening the atmosphere even further, but the music — which ends with a return to the tones from the first parts of the track — always feels personal. Although the vibes alone feel thoroughly compelling, the track maintains a sense of movement, like pensively walking through that foggy field without anyone else around. The song doesn’t feel preoccupied with getting to an endpoint — instead, the music serenely drifts along, providing space to find some peace in the contemplative journey, without worrying about a potentially elusive feeling of conclusion. It’s a sonic place to sit and take in surroundings.
There’s a real feeling of brightness in the atmosphere, like rays of sunlight slowly spreading across a horizon, and the track features a poignant feeling of peace while resting in the glow. Poignantly, the cover art for The Risk Of Dreaming features an image from a vantage point within vibrant foliage, and a feeling of nestling into the atmosphere courses through this music.
“This song is the product of a year that asked more questions than gave answers,” Dodson explains. “The world on pause offered me a chance for reflection. A sentimental demo from years ago revisited with a different perspective gave this song a chance to blossom into something new, approached with the purpose of recapturing lost emotions with the help of new experiences.”
Nab The Risk Of Dreaming across platforms at this link.