G.L.A.D.’s (Gospel Lane Americana Division) ‘U-TURN’ is an acoustic EP that embodies the kind of intimate ambiance in which people comfortably share stories over a cup of tea or two. The songs were composed with a focus on emotional expression and truth, rather than any mechanical embellishments, allowing everything to be felt through each note and word. The duo, together with violinist Andreas Waeldele and drummer Mathis Wunderlich, makes songs that compel their listeners to feel resurrection, despair, or other particular time in a person’s life.
What comes first in this album is “Turn”, a song that deals with the thrill and anxiety of waiting for a second chance to arise. Its steady beat rhythm and harmonious vocals engender a quite heated tussle of emotions when both yearning and letting go undressed. Sounds were nicely arranged so subtle feelings could take the stage, and the dropped-tuning acoustic guitar added a firm richness to it all. In “By Morning”, however, there are some shifts in a triangle, and the inverse harmony valleys are woven with beams of hope. Ina East and B.T. West add thick harmonies, which add warmth to the track, and the gentle violin incorporated makes it all even more chilling. On the other hand, “But One” mends itself with moments of lapse and resignation; it is focused on loss. Low-end instrumentation draws the location out of nothing and makes the song such a defying, complex piece of art. Everything clashes yet falls together, the percussion is controlled to accentuate the meaning of the song.
The prominent offering, “Winter of 46”, is rich in history as well as personal recollections of events. Deriving from B.T.’s mother accounts, the song depicts vivid imaginations of the strife struggles that were witnessed in the post-war period. The way the plot of the song unfolds is very painful and touching at the same time which makes it one of the strongest tracks on the EP. In the closing chapter, “Red Stain”, which was a bonus track, the two come to terms with the themes of guilt and forgiveness. It also leaves its imprint with a brief sound of accompanying instruments which is ideal for the lyrics as it helps to create that sense of vulnerability. ‘U-TURN’ recorded live sessions at Galley Tower Studios, and it is characterized by a move away from over-production towards more realism. It is an engaging choice for the audience interested in folk and Americana since its acoustic ear baseness and the practice of narration have a lot of value to the piece.
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