Michael Feuerstack - “Your Mind’s Made Up”
Photo: Anneke Hymen
Montreal-based singer-songwriter Michael Feuerstack is sure to ignite your nostalgic flames with the vintage-tinged torch of his latest release: “Your Mind’s Made Up.”
A quick, rich and deep bass line gets things started, walking our ears up into the robust and horn-driven arrangement. We are immediately swept back to the days before digital, as Feuerstack seems to have a firm grasp upon the analogue realm. His vocal is absolutely delightful, beginning the tune with the hook, deliciously reminiscent of artists such as Andrew Bird and even some hints of Nick Drake.
The components that comprise the song are carefully utilized, such as the vibey guitar that diligently underscores the verses. Bits of softly played keys can be heard throughout, always kept on course by the fantastic and creamy rhythm section. As the song enters the bridge, ear candy comes by way of some lap steel– there are so many instruments packed into this tune that we hear something new with each listen.
But keeping it all in place is Feuerstack’s voice, which acts as though an anchor to which the rest of the song is bound. From the delicate backing vocals to the prolific arrangement, you are going to find something you love as soon as you get this one into your ears. “Your Mind’s Made Up” is the first single from Feuerstack’s upcoming LP, Eternity Mongers, which is slated for a mid-April release via Forward Music Group.
About the track, Feuerstack adds: “When I was in my 20s and 30s, everyone around me starting having children. Now that some time has passed, it’s time for many of those children to leave home in the same away that we all once did… That same feeling can be applied to different kinds of departures, and so I kept it a little bit vague to cover more ground. There is something vexingly inverted here in this particular portrayal of selflessness: it’s a kind of selflessness that most people have to accept at some point in their lives. You don’t rise to it, you fall into it.”
-HD