Stephen McAll and his band Constant Follower are back with another poignant triumph of resonant chamber pop. "The Merry Dancers On TV" — from their debut album "Neither Is, Nor Ever Was" — combines McAll’s signature husky whisper with acoustic guitar and the sparse contributions of an experimental folk accompaniment. As atmospheric guitar swells and gorgeous backing vocals from Kessi fill out the mix, we are gently submerged in the swirling pathos of McAll's inner mind. Both intimate and quietly aggressive, "The Merry Dancers On TV" challenges us all to question the narratives we take for granted.
As McAll and band deliver a full collection of songs that is "borne out of a respect for change, and the inevitable passing of time that frightens, comforts and humbles every one of us," we bear witness collectively to a world in constant flux. McAll leaves us with a sense of hope as we realize that emotional honesty is a precursor to living our best life. You can count on Constant Follower to introduce us to the difficult truths that so many of us choose not to see.
Thriving at the intersection of chamber pop and soaring, ambient experimental folk, the music of Constant Follower continues to evolve into a unique and emotional amalgam of melodic tenderness touched with a hint of pure anguish. Like a heartbroken cry echoing through an empty cathedral, we are engulfed in equal parts sadness, wonder, and unspeakable beauty.
