Singer-songwriter Ryan Keen returns just in time with a slice of summery indie pop which fuses his usual thoughtful, plaintive reflections on life and love with a hearty injection of hot-right-now tropical house production, managing to produce an end result which brings to mind the more dance and urban side of Ryan’s influences but also stands comparison with his old friend and touring mate Ed Sheeran’s recent output.
Ryan has often been inspired by his south coast upbringing, with previous tracks oozing with light and life and the smell of the ocean and here, he brings every ounce of that to the fore, with even the watery artwork featuring the artist himself in a tranquil blue sea/sky setting.
Starting with sun-drenched backing and Drake-style distorted vocals, the song builds in Ryan’s trademark acoustic guitar work with some U2-esque delay pedal riffs before breaking out into the irresistible catchy chorus which cements the song’s position as a full-on dance-pop banger of the highest order. The difference is, unlike those anonymous, repetitively soulless identikit songs which clog up Spotify playlists everywhere, this has real heart, supplied as ever by Ryan’s sweet, earnest vocals. If this brings him a little closer to the sun, then it’s a shrewd move.
Download “Never Let You Down” from iTunes or stream it right now over on Spotify.
Check out Ryan’s website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channel.
Also check out my recent interview with Ryan and a review of his triumphant London homecoming.
