Kevin Pearce - Pocket Handkerchief Lane (Album Review)
Monday, 10 October 2011
Written by Emma Newlyn
Being one third of the brilliant band Skywatchers, Kevin Pearce has already created his fair share of admirable music, but being a solo artist and songwriter in his own right has fortunately lead us to his compelling and graceful album ‘Pocket Handkerchief Lane’.
First track ‘Get By’ is a beautiful mix of modern electric drums, accompanied by traditional acoustic guitar and with an inspired electric guitar section thrown in. This is an especially promising first track, suggesting a whole host of influences to the album.
Brilliantly haunting backing vocals on second track ‘older times’ are almost reminiscent of Arcade Fire’s Funeral or Neon Bible albums. Kevin Pearce’s lead vocal role here is in no way over shadowed though, as his fragile yet mature voice provides a comforting familiarity.
‘Don’t Fall Down’ once again presents a song both accessible enough for a wide audience, yet with some unexpected and imaginative details; mixing smooth strings with heavy industrial drums to create something both powerful and delicate.
More guitar based ‘Icicles’ has a hint of Jeff Buckley, and stands apart from the others in it’s stripped back nature and melancholy feel. Kevin Pearce’s especially strong song writing talents are laid bare for all to witness here.
Fifth track ‘Waste’ and sixth track ‘Waterfall’ both have a softer, more acoustic, folky approach to them and are perfectly placed in the album, providing a very natural sound before introducing the fizzling electronic instruments back in.
Burning Summer Sun contains vocal elements of David Gray and Michael Stipe, performed with great gentleness and intimacy, while ‘Don’t tell my heart’ is a winding, reverb - laced conception.
More electro sounding ‘Vultures’ presents soft, mellow vocals, entwined with sparkling lo-fi buzzing synth and electric drums, offering up another variation to an album with already so many imaginative features.
‘Seeds of summer Fruits’ is another stripped back number, in which we can really hear the bare bones of where Pearce’s songs originate from, while ‘Last Blow Out’ is an electro song which somehow still brilliantly emits organic emotions.
Kevin Pearce has not only managed to write some beautifully captivating songs on ‘Pocket Handkerchief Lane’, but has also been able to create wisdom-filled soundscapes that are easy to become lost in.
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First track ‘Get By’ is a beautiful mix of modern electric drums, accompanied by traditional acoustic guitar and with an inspired electric guitar section thrown in. This is an especially promising first track, suggesting a whole host of influences to the album. 
