By Joe Johnson (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 11, 2015
Andrew Belle, who chose a path of music over his business and marketing education, recently came through Vancouver as an opening act for Joshua Radin. On this trip Belle was performing tracks off his Black Bear Hushed EP, and as a personal newcomer to Belle, I was taken aback by the intimate nature of this music. Hushed is actually a stripped-down version of Belle’s 2013 full-length album Black Bear. In this new take, Belle is focusing solely on a minimal expression of elements, mostly a drum machine and keyboard. Belle found that it was far easier to perform with this simpler set while touring, and became captured by the sound — then hit the studio with Hushed.
I can fully express that this album is stunning, having made the decision to give up listening to any of the full-band versions of the songs in order to fully appreciate the Hushed versions as they are. While it is only six tracks, and I hope that Belle expands on this sound on his next album, each song works within the mix. The album may only be 25 minutes, but it stands up to repeated listening, which has yet to become tiring.
Belle is a true singer-songwriter, but he gravitates away from the folk genre. If anything, he borrows elements from Coldplay, but elevates from there by integrating undertones of R&B and grit, which lends a distinct substance to his sound.
The two tracks “Pieces” and “Sister” were singles off the original Black Bear, and they could be considered the singles on Hushed. As these songs play, you can almost touch the atmosphere that lifts through the slow, bouncing percussion and Belle’s flowing, extended enunciations. Ultimately, all the songs progress in this fashion, baring Belle’s soul.
