Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Feralman makes an unforgettable debut with the album ‘Chapter 35-43’.
Making his second appearance in the blog, this time Feralman is back with the debut album he’d been teasing since November of last year. Including ten organic, subtly hypnotic tracks — one of them being reviewed here back in January — ‘Chapter 35-43’ is an emotional rollercoaster that gives the listener a chance to dig deep into the artist’s past, detailing how life events, the feelings they caused to grow within him, and their aftermath have shaped the life of Feralman from ages thirty-five to forty-three.
The album is nothing less than outstanding, and a must listen for anyone who enjoys immersing themselves in the world they’re being presented via music.
During my first listen of the album, it only took me four tracks to feel bewildered by all the different emotions being displayed in the songs. Usually, being tossed into several different stories without context would only result in me leaving, but this time I was enthralled by Feralman’s talent, since a certain level of songwriting is needed to create so many emotions within the listener, and there was no way I’d stop listening before I could get a clearer understanding of who Feralman is and why I’m so attracted to the stories he’s sharing.
One of the many factors that make Chapter 35-43 so easy to love is it’s versatility. As the tracklist jumps from an energetic and explosive opening like ‘I am DRAGON!’ to the dark, suffocating energy from ‘Won’t You Complete Me?’ only to leave with the scattered, memorable farewell that was ‘And Then You Were Gone’, Feralman’s work is able to influence anyone who’s listening, and if we allow it, he’ll even take us back in time and make us feel as though we are the ones experiencing those emotions right when they first bloomed.
His music cannot be pinned down by one label, for it transcends verbal and written communication and jumps into a spiritual realm, only being understood once you’ve personally listened and felt his music. At the same time, I cannot help wanting to recommend him to people who love Sufjan Stevens, Ben Howard, and even fans of Lorde who are there mostly for the earnestness of the lyrics and open to experiencing a more open, mystical sound.
Every track in Chapter 35-43 feels honest and raw, at times even coming off as brutally painful when the emotions lean on the negative spectrum. The sincerity in every word and every note, highlighted by the ambiental sounds that create a more subversive experience, is what makes Feralman stand out from other artists.
The aforementioned was also said by Feralman himself, who confirmed that this sound was intentional, as he and his producer wanted to avoid overproducing the songs and even retained some of the imperfections. The team behind the album were clear on the sound they wanted to obtain, and the result was breathtaking.
In the end, I am in love with tracks such as ‘Where Were You Before’, ‘I Cry’ and ‘Anniversary Song’ and I’m mystified in the best way possible by the sound of ‘Won’t You Complete Me?’ and ‘Gift of Life’, tracks that were slightly unexpected but very appreciated once I realized how important they were to the album and the story it was trying to show me.
Human beings are naturally drawn to things they can see themselves in, and while some of the songs might be hard to understand at first, there is something everyone can relate to in every track of the album. This is why I can assure that whether you were originally intrigued or not, you’ll end up adoring at least one track in this album. That’s the power of expressive artists who do not shy away from the truth, and Feralman is certainly an artist that will continuously deliver significant, ‘heart on sleeve’ music, being one of the best realist musicians I’ve had the pleasuring of listening to.
If you enjoyed Feralman’s music and would like to stay updated, be sure to check out his official website. For social media you can follow his Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. To listen to his music, you can head over to his Spotify profile, Soundcloud, and Youtube channel, or you can purchase his music at Bandcamp.
You can also support the artist by streaming and sharing his music, which can be found in the following Playlists: 12 New Songs This Week, Indie Only, Missing You…, Chill – Folk – Acoustic, and Less Than 1,000 Followers.
P.S. If you enjoy discovering new artists and fresh new music you should subscribe to Less Than 1,000 Followers and follow the Playlist with all the artists we’ve talked about!
This coverage was created via Musosoup #Sustainablecurator