Michael Simon Armstrong - “Calories & Iron”
Michael Simon Armstrong never disappoints. This is likely obvious in the way that we keep featuring every tune he sends our way. After initially winning us over with “Frames,” we have looked forward to each and every track that winds up in our inbox, and today we are very pleased to present his latest indie folk offering, “Calories & Iron.”
Armstrong teases his listeners with a few seconds of ethereal artifacts before our ears are greeted with a robust arrangement. The drums are steady and crisp as the beat provides a pulse for the bass and some synthy strings. As Armstrong’s vocal glides across the top, careful listeners will still be able to locate the song’s initial sonic relics, which act as a pad that stretches the production to the far ends of the soundscape.
After the first verse, the rhythm drops out to reveal a lo-fi and vibey acoustic guitar that carves a path for layers of Armstrong’s wonderful falsetto. To be quite honest, this is our favorite part of the song and has brought us back to “Calories & Iron” for multiple listens– there’s something sacred about a raw, stripped-back performance, especially in the modern age, when numerous artists would, instead, rely upon software to fill in the gaps.
The second chorus begins just as sparsely as the first, with a full-band arrangement making an appearance on its back half, leading us into the track’s elevated conclusion. “Calories & Iron” is filled to its brim with multiple occurrences of ear candy and we are confident that you’ll discover something new within it upon each and every listen. This is simply another reason that all of us are looking forward to Armstrong’s upcoming LP.
-HD