SINGLE REVIEW: VIC ALLEN - FALLING IN LOVE

It seems unlikely yet it is three years since the release of Vic Allen's debut album, "Some Place I'd Rather Be', so it is great to report that with a little encouragement from #TEAMw21 and a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, we can start to prepare for album number two, starting with the opening single "Falling In Love"

As with her break up songs which are never really quite what they are - Falling In Love" seems as much about falling in love with life again as opposed to just one person.

"Falling In Love" is bright, happy and finds Vic in fabulous place. From the joyous cover which has a sense of summer and freedom, with the sun shining as she strolls through wild grasses, holding some sort of sprig in the air. Sound wise initially we are in welcome familiar territory, a guitar riff, inventive vocal phrasing, all of the things that we would expect to find on a Vic Allen single.

"City lights, oh tonight

Seem a little brighter, clearer"

That additional adjective just changes you expectations slightly as to how the tune is going to progress and after the next two lines a powerful back beat appears, injecting a sense of expectation and building momentum

"Stars ignite, taking flight

Yeah I've always been right here, but

I can see, suddenly

Something in me is changing, changing

I can see differently

And I'm letting go"

This is a re-engagement with life, finding joy in things once more, something it is easy to lose if you feel you are in a rut or having to face any sort of prolonged adversity.

The chorus gives freedom to Vic to run free with her vocals, meanwhile the back beat gives way to percussive explosion the likes of which you'd have to dig into Vic's early EP's to find anything remotely comparable. It's akin to how U2 "Beautiful Day" similarly explodes on the chorus

"I think I'm falling in love

After all my running

The sun is coming back up

It's stealing the night

In golden light

Colours are starting to glow

It feels like, It feels like, I'm finally home"

That final line, a recognition that you are back to your old self.

"Breathe it in - let your skin

Catch the evening rays

Summer breeze, running free

This is our time, our place,

There's almost a reminder to self to savour the moment

"Breathe it in" on the bridge is repeated three times

Complete with a video that combines a montage of travel, performance and wild exuberance clips, it all goes to make a powerful opening statement of what the other tracks on Vic Allen's second album will have to live up to.