David Drake
There haven’t been very many quality singer/songwriters rising through the ranks this summer, but out of the underground shadows David Drake is making a fantastic follow-up to his debut single in “Touch the Burning Sky” that perhaps makes up for the shortcomings of his indie contemporaries. In “Touch the Burning Sky,” Drake steps into a surreal harmony as though he were always meant to sing this song, and while the instrumentation is very intimate in style, it’s not nearly as effective as the vocal is.
This is an amazing showcase of his talents, and an amazing way to cap off a rather underwhelming season for listeners around the world.
For this being what amounts to a rookie effort, “Touch the Burning Sky” exhibits a confident David Drake whose attitude is a little infectious - even when he’s being quite brooding and emotionally exposed with his lyrics. There’s never a prop or a sense of pomp to get in his way here, but rather a fluidity between his words and the music that they’re sewn into keeping us on the edge of our seats waiting to hear whatever golden-toned melodic texture will come pouring from the stereo next.
Lyrically powerful and exceptionally vulnerable in its narrative, David Drake produces a single/video combo in “Touch the Burning Sky” that I would call absolute required listening for anyone who loves the indie singer/songwriter model in 2020.
This artist doesn’t appear to have much of an interest in bringing together elements of his rivals’ sound with components of a throwback look in alternative rock - a common formula utilized by some of his major label counterparts - but instead giving us something wholly personal in this music. I like his artistic direction and can definitely see it bringing him some mainstream attention in the future.
For these reasons and more I give this Single by David Drake 10 Stars, my first one as a critic Well Done David Drake!
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Trace Whittaker
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
8/2020
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