Sophie van Hasselt - “Man in the Mountains”
Dutch singer-songwriter Sophie van Hasselt has just released the stripped-back, introspective sounds of “Man in the Mountains.”
The arrangement is sparsely populated, opening with the raw sounds of some thoughtfully strummed acoustic guitar. The production is rich and intimate, as though van Hasselt has sat down next to you in order to provide a private, heartfelt performance.
Her vocal delivery is truly divine, breathy and, at times, not much more than a whisper as she reminds us of the significance in cherishing everything we already have. There are moments where van Hasselt’s voice is sightly reminiscent of Björk, especially in the cusp of her sincere falsetto.
“Man in the Mountains” is void of any percussive elements, but the arrangement grows as it proceeds. Some swelling ambience of strings can be heard atop the notes churned out by a bass and piano, which combine to provide a prolific undercurrent of sound upon which the vocals delicately glide.
Sounds are added and removed to lend a significant means of ebb and flow, allowing “Man in the Mountains” to rise and fall through peaks and valleys of sound, ensuring that listeners remain engaged. Subtle vocal layering is also utilized to bring a dynamic width to the soundscape.
Sophie van Hasselt has supplied the world with a genuine soundtrack for our daily bouts of introspection and we hope that “Man in the Mountains” is just one of many songs that she sends to our doorstep.