Blending his dark aesthetic with a heartfelt, reflective songwriting and an intense blend of folk, alt-rock and experimental elements, Troy Bennett’s Graveyard Lips shines across the multi-faceted new album ‘(Bare)Ly Existing’.
Troy Bennett’s Graveyard Lips, a project led by Louisiana-based Troy Bennett, the project explores themes of empathy, kindness, and love. Opening the electronic, noisey, distorted and glitchy intro ‘Dr(0)Ne -‘ the album sets a dark tone before the track develops into an experimental soundscape of processed vocals and washing synths comparable to Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’. The album then slides into the picked acoustic guitar, tight drums and whimsical soft vocal delivery of ‘Pale Room’ before the track grows into a swelling, grunge and shoegaze tinted sonic pallet of warming bass, chorus and reverb soaked electric guitars and tight drums.
Elsewhere ‘Root(ing For You)’ leans further into the folky songwriting on Bennett, delivering a simplistic and emotive stripped soundscape of acoustic guitar and vocals. ‘Longing Vestiges’ captures a optimistic breezy indie nature, while ‘You Were feat. Sarah Godling’ displays a Sufjan Stevens-esque soundscape with twinkling piano and fingerpicked acoustic guitar intertwining under the duo’s vocal harmonies, resulting in a whimsical, heartfelt track.
The final three tracks on the album display yet more of the cohesive, alt-rock-come-acoustic sound Troy Bennett’s Graveyard Lips create.
Reflecting on the creation of the album, Bennett shares:“This record is an expulsion and catharsis of a lifetime of confusion and sadness. It’s only going to get weirder from here.”
Affecting, at times reflective and inward, at others optimistic and whimsical, the album is an ode to Troy Bennet’s creativity and ability to craft authentic, interesting soundscapes.
