Musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Simon Talbot will be returning to the indie scene on September 8th with a new album titled “A State of Mind.” This collection of 12 songs was recorded during the spring and summer of 2021 and over the course of two years, it gathered strength and a mysterious energy to captivate both the mind and the music industry. This time, Simon explores the mind and emotions that anyone on the planet can experience. “A State of Mind” serves as a conduit into the realm of feelings, into a state of mind that is inevitably altered by emotions. How often have you had the chance to listen to an album where each track is an emotion accompanied by a brief description? I believe this is a rare occurrence, where the world of music presents such deep and insightful releases. Simon Talbot is known for delving deeply into his worlds within his releases. As a true explorer and psychologist, Simon Talbot encapsulates his thoughts and observations within his musical albums. I am intrigued and eager to invite you to join me on a journey through the mind of Simon Talbot.
The album opens with the track “Attitude – You Made Me See You.” We delve into the story of the main characters’ relationship, as if this first chapter of the grand story sets the tone for a positive continuation. The music of this track carries a subtle hint of joy through the tender harmonies in the musician’s vocals and the fairly minimalist arrangement. However, in the following track “Belief – Feel The World Inside,” that melancholic sound appears, in which Simon Talbot is a master. It’s as if the musician invites you to dive within yourself and feel hope and faith in the future. It’s a true immersion into the world of emotions and the mind.
The next chapter of the album, “Determination – The Sunshine of Your Life,” is filled with resolute guitar chords, a vibrant drum rhythm, and an amazing guitar solo. The perfect sound sets the mood for achieving and conquering any heights. But in the next track, “Sadness – Losing You,” a complete change in sound occurs. The ease, brightness, and strength of the previous tracks give way to a minor key and dissonance, so akin to the feelings of anger and disappointment from sorrow. The perfect transition from one state to another is accentuated by the altered sound of the guitars, which resonate darkly and lowly, while Simon Talbot’s vocals take on demanding and powerful accents.
Approaching the midpoint of the album, we encounter the tracks “Love – The Future’s Healing” and “Freedom – A Lover’s Legacy.” Personally, they are inseparable for me, and one track is closely linked to the other. Continuing the journey through the mind and human experiences, the healing power of love and freedom emerges in place of pain. “Love – The Future’s Healing” stands out with its slow rhythm, contemplative and dreamy atmosphere, while “Freedom – A Lover’s Legacy” sounds like the wind, with a rapid tempo, emphasizing the importance of boundaries being absent and the freedom of thoughts and mind. The impeccable guitar play in the track “Happiness – The World Inside of You” makes this track my favorite. This track truly captures all the hues and emotions of the feeling of happiness. In the track “Missing You – A Feeling Inside of Me,” you’ll feel an unbearable pain and a sense of loss conveyed through Simon Talbot’s voice. Thanks to the emotional vocals and guitars that seem to weep, it’s impossible not to experience the emotions that Simon infuses into this track.
At this very moment, a pivotal shift occurs in the album. As if acknowledging the necessity of pain, the world, emotions, and mind undergo a transformation. In the track “Souls – The World is Yours,” the funky and dynamic rhythm with high synth keys underscores the internal changes and the birth of new emotions after the experienced journey. This perfect directorial trick finds its continuation in the next track, “Angry – You Made Me.” Starting with a solitary beat of drums, Simon Talbot immediately introduces heavy guitar riffs and his unique and emotive vocals, turning this track into a true rock ballad, brimming with feelings and pain.
Despite its bright beginning, Simon Talbot steers the album into the depths of despair and humility by the finale. The track “Absence – No Tale to Tell,” with its ringing guitar melodies and subdued vocal tones, seems to emphasize the transformation of the mind and complete acceptance of circumstances. The perfect rhythm, accompanied by the vibrant sound of cymbals, sets the stage for a powerful climax in the track “Pity – Heaven.” The gradual decrease in volume in the final track, like an ellipsis, underscores that emotions do not end here. They are cyclical, always in motion, like a compass needle.
It’s no coincidence that Simon Talbot chose a compass in hand as a significant symbolic element of the album. The hand represents the mind, and our emotions, like the needle in a compass, will always be in tandem with happiness and pain. Just as the album “A State of Mind” is filled with the entire spectrum of emotions. As the lingering reverberations of the final note dissipates, one is compelled to concede that existence itself unfurls as a mosaic of sentiments, each thread interwoven with the next, giving rise to an intricate and enigmatic symphony. Through its unadorned candor and profound artistic profundity, “A State of Mind” transcends the designation of a mere album, emerging as a beckoning gateway into the labyrinthine expanse of human sentiment.
“A State of Mind” by Simon Talbot
is out on September 8th
Indie Boulevard Magazine 