motel void

Pawl is an American singer-songwriter who thrives on musical diversity. His previous recordings have explored a wide range of genres – from indie pop, folk, and ambient to rock and jazz. This genre-blending approach is at the heart of his new release, MYSTIC.

The album opens with the jazz-infused track Alright, a laid-back, chilled-out song tailor-made for warm summer evenings with a drink in hand out on the porch. Midway through, a female voice joins in, adding a soft, enchanting harmony that makes the song feel even more complete.

The second track, Dreams, leans more into a classic singer-songwriter vibe, carried by excellent drum (machine?) work that gives the song its momentum and groove. Then comes The Moment, distinguished by bold, 80s-style synths that highlight Pawl’s stylistic range and his ease in moving between different moods and atmospheres.

One of the standout songs for me is the straightforward, punchy Bars, which kicks off like a pop-punk anthem before blossoming into something more expansive with the addition of horns, giving it an epic, cinematic quality. The Inside is Outside follows, again showcasing an outstanding female vocal that breathes fresh life into the track and takes center stage – an invigorating moment on the record.

From the second half of the album, the mellow Little Sin stands out with its gentle touch of melancholia and duet format, mirroring the structure of Windshield, a track with a jazzy undercurrent that recalls the introspective depth and delicate beauty of Tim Buckley’s later works. As the album winds down, the more experimental Dawn in Detroit leads into the final and title track, Mystic – a powerful closer that combines an emotional melody with a soaring guitar solo, leaving a strong, resonant impression.

MYSTIC is both a pleasant and bold album – at a time when the music landscape is flooded with single after single, it’s refreshing and commendable when an artist dares to craft a cohesive, full-length work with a deeper impact on the listener. The album touches on many themes: the human and mystical dimensions of life, transcendence, hitting rock bottom, creative rebirth, and death.

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