Braden Lam - “Beautiful Neighbourhoods“
Photo by Griffin O’Toole
Nova Scotia-based indie-folk singer-songwriter Braden Lam returns to the blog with the cinematic and nostalgic sounds of “Beautiful Neighbourhoods.”
The soft chords from an electric guitar provide support for the gentle strums of an acoustic, immediately drawing in the listener as the melodious tones of keys arrive. The vibe is laid-back and bordering on melancholic, which just so happens to be exactly what we’re looking for.
The vocal performance of Braden Lam is nothing short of sensational, and it brings us great joy to hear the emotion within each line of lyrics. He effortlessly breaks into his falsetto at key moments, offering listeners a raw, heartfelt delivery that will, more than likely, turn you into an instant fan.
As “Beautiful Neighbourhoods” progresses, a delightfully vintage-tinged rhythm section appears, providing a bit of an upbeat groove, with a heavy dose of late-1960s production that we truly cannot get enough of. Layers of guitars emerge with textural backing vocals that wonderfully fill in the remaining gaps– this song is truly a gem.
We suggest you carving out the four and a half minutes required to experience the track in its entirety. From the authentic appeal of the vocal, to the gritty, over-driven riffing of the lead guitar, “Beautiful Neighbourhoods” will surely find a permanent place in your collection of sounds.