Sam Vano - “hero”
Netherlands-based Sam Vano has just released “hero,” a beautiful exploration of someone who wants to be a hero but doesn’t know how.
The song begins with a stripped-back arrangement, with an acoustic guitar and a slow drum beat creating a gentle and melancholic atmosphere. This is added to by the guitar swells, which gently pad the song, adding to the atmosphere and lending to the song’s nice, retro, and dreamy vibe.
The song plays fantastically with dynamics, having sections that groove with the addition of electric guitar, claps, and shakers. Splashes of old piano tones add to the song’s groove, giving “hero” a unique texture. The song then dies back to its more stripped-back sections before growing slightly as the next section arrives.
The song’s climax is a sudden surge of fuzzy guitars that is heavy and brooding, adding a great contrast to the track’s overall dreamy sound. I get hints of early Paul McCartney’s solo work in the way that the song evolves.
Sam Vano’s vocal is really gentle and relaxed as it delivers the lyrics, only getting assertive near the end. “hero" is a fantastic dreamy, atmospheric and dynamic song. I really enjoy the creativity it beholds, as well as its stripped-back nature. This is good work.