There are so many facets to the backdrop of this album that defines a musician striving to flourish (or at least survive) in the cut and thrust of independent music in 2022. Crowd funded, socially distanced produced, chasing your dream and staying true to the ideals of your influences form the spine of a record that gives Indiana-based Brett Wiscons a fighting chance to land a blow with LATE BLOOMER.
From a front cover tossing around imagery of tough blue collar heartland rock, lashings of upbeat guitar sensibilities provide the early impetus for Wiscons to air his thoughts, observations and experiences through a satisfying medium of the well-constructed song. Eventually the record finds its groove and moderating presence. Flair and innovation is kept to a minimum through the ten-track collection of songs that serve up an intent of an artist painted by the literal intent of the album title.
'Late Bloomer', the track, predates the album by at least three years, although unforeseen circumstances played a major part in delaying procedures. The song brings the album more on an even keel sound wise as Wiscons edges into auto biographical territory in raising a glass after turning a hand to full time art following earning a crust in the real world. The supporting cast to this pivotal number solidly fills a canvas that when rolled out in full brightens up thirty-five minutes of your listening time. This cast is led off by one of the album's other defining tracks with the pace and intensity of 'Vertical City' ramping up the scale. Taking inspiration in a scene of New York City in lockdown, this is a number ripe for airplay. The contrast between this and low key closer 'October' offers a balance that guides you through the listening journey.
Another notable track at the point the record enters its second half is the progressive orientated 'When You Can't Breathe' which is based on the George Floyd atrocity. Attitudes and leanings are nailed to the mask in a song filtering in sample recordings to ram home a message that resonates strongly in Americana audiences.
Not all the influences are wholly rock focussed and elements of soul filter in to form 'Let's Do It Again' featuring a brief exposure of brass within a funky feel. Venturing down a more pop oriented rabbit hole is the ear catching 'Any Other Kind of Way'. That is pop that folks of Wiscons vintage grew up on and thus resonates with the target audience of LATE BLOOMER.
In a crowded market, albums like this do benefit from being given a space to gel. The more you listen the more you realise that the upfront rock element is confined to the surface rather than the deeper content. What does substantiate this album is the smart match up of Wiscons and his songwriting partner Thom Daugherty, who in fact is the chief collaborating all round contributor to this second solo Brett Wiscons album, a follow up to 2016's THE HEINEKEN SESSIONS.
LATE BLOOMER ultimately plays the underdog nap hand to uplift the work of Brett Wiscons. Music in its many digital guises around the world can find a place for this in their content. Closer to home, and more likely the heart, it is perfectly formed for the road to keep the roots of the curator in tact.
