Turn down the lights, pour yourself a strong one, and groove along to Crystal blue’s evocative Country, Blues pop track, ‘Two Shots of Brandy’

The NYC-based artist Crystal blue makes a stirring first impression with the release of their debut album, ‘Two Shots of Brandy’. An album that’s been years in the making brings to light the artist’s compelling emotional songwriting combined with technological mastery to deliver a set of soundscapes that you want to sit back and savor, at your pace, like a fine liquor.

The title track opens brilliantly with bluesy guitar & soft thumping beats cutting through smoky atmospherics. This immediately feels like a beautiful blend of the sounds of The Xx & Cigarettes After Sex. The opening draws you deep into melancholy-tinged reflection and a slow-burning groove.

Enter, soulful sombre country vocals, dripping with anguish and despair, singing of him sitting at a bar, making his case for ‘Two Shots of Brandy’. The emotional tone is one of vulnerability and aloneness, seeking solace in the golden drink to help find some peace.

The piercing, poetic lyrics are all too self-aware, and that’s what makes listening to this feel deeply personal. After all, haven’t we all chosen to rid ourselves of our sorrows by trying to drink it all away, only to find, somewhere down the line, that it’s only made things that much worse?

What we love about ‘Two Shots of Brandy’ is how its beautifully balanced between country storytelling and modern sound design. Space and depth feature prominently as Crystal blue gives the track plenty of room to breathe and allows for perfectly placed pauses to emphasize the track’s emotional core. The two come together neatly to create an immersive, emotional listening experience with plenty of soul and modern touches to keep you engaged.

This is an artist to watch out for their fearless bridging of past, present and future sounds to create something real and timeless.

Stream ‘Crystal blue – Two Shots of Brandy’ on Spotify here: