Pinwheel Valley: Reverie
A reflective, bluesy take on rock’s very roots, Pinwheel Valley has established a classic cadence on the profoundly moving “Reverie.” Things take their time, and the band has no problem slowing things down to let every detail come into view. Word choice matters, and they prove deft lyricists with verses akin to chasing down an almost forgotten dream. Right when the meaning is to be revealed, it darts away back into the mind's shadows. Guitar work takes a front seat, perfectly accompanying the spacious vocals. Beyond the rock aspect, there’s an evident fondness for an expansive folk quality, as the song deserves an arena to paint on a much larger canvas. Flourishes roll through the vast space; even the rhythm section conveys yearning emotions.
References abound throughout the journey. For the tenor of the vocals, nods to Thom Yorke’s pained, emotive performances filter through. Like Radiohead, a moody atmosphere gives it a magical, surrealist bend. Within the more expansive, expressive tones, aspects of early Pearl Jam appear, for the sound expands into this infinite, unknowable space. Grizzly Bear’s stately, tasteful air appears throughout as Pinwheel Valley makes a beautiful, serene sound that completely engrosses the listener. Pinwheel Valley, for all these touchstones, crafts something distinctive, highly unique to themselves.
The guitar starts things up with a graciousness. From this subdued, low-key start, they expand their horizon. An awe for the natural world takes shape, and it has a distinctive western twang that guides it. Throughout the piece, additional elements enter into the fray, helping to bring some more color to that initial, darker impulse. Lyrics indicate this desire to exist in a dream realm, and the way the verses capture this spirit is doubly refreshing. With each reiteration of the theme, they grow in confidence through vocals and the overall sound. Upon hitting their full stride in the latter half of the piece, it echoes into the distance, adding to the inherent beauty and the transitory nature of life that the song captures very well.
Pinwheel Valley built an impressive structure and unforgettable message on the classic meets contemporary tact of “Reverie.”
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