Cypress Key’s new EP, "Shadows and Thorns", takes listeners on a deeply reflective journey through an acoustic-driven folk sound where painful history, inherited baggage, and the challenging desire for redemption collide.
The New Orleans project, conceived by drummer/producer Mazz and singer/guitarist Darren Blanchard, focuses squarely on the emotional weight underlying these four tracks. In its 16 minutes and 15 seconds, Shadows and Thorns addresses the effects of a tumultuous past, while providing a route ahead for addressing and correcting the sins brought forward from prior generations.
What makes the EP more fascinating is how Cypress Key delves into its folk side. The acoustic base gives the material a grounded, intimate quality, allowing the themes of contemplation and redemption to fit comfortably at the heart of the listening experience.
“Long Road to Redemption” is one of the EP’s stronger moments, rising to an appropriate melodic punctuation point with a guitar solo at the close. There’s a sense of movement in the music, echoing the idea of a lengthy and complicated trip to make peace with the past. Plain Ol Crazy adds to the collection of unforgettable moments, while As the Crow Flies continues to underscore the contemplative nature of the EP. Overall, these tracks help give "Shadows and Thorns" an identity of their own within the general acoustic-driven approach of Cypress Key.
Rather than overstaying its welcome, the four-song EP communicates its message in a brief timeframe and focused atmosphere. Shadows & Thorns is a musical exploration of our beginnings, our legacy, and what it takes to take a different path eventually.
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