He is We Appeals to Me

Timing worked out perfectly today when I visited Purevolume. I came across He is We, a two-piece acoustic indie pop band made up of Trevor Kelly and Rachel Taylor, who is releasing an album, "My Forever," in three days. How perfect? I happened upon a band that is releasing very fresh music and probably trying really hard to get that music out to the masses. So perfect. I did not only review their latest songs but also some older ones because I wanted to get a taste of how they have developed. Three songs in, and I was hooked.

"Forever and Ever" sounds a lot like a Charlotte Sometimes style of song mixed with a little bit of Vanessa Carlton. Its lyrics are passionate and optimistic, and the instrumentation goes well with the flow of the song. The crescendos and decrescendos are inserted in all the right places, and the acoustic guitar sounds fantastic with the gentle tone of the vocals. I especially appreciate the layered vocals of the song, which give it a symphonic sound. Every instrument's part is tweaked to perfection.

"A Mess It Grows" starts out with a haunting keyboard pattern with three notes and turns into an angst-filled, look-what-karma-can-do anthem. "I'm alright and I'm alive," is just one of the many examples of personal triumph found in the song. Percussion-filled rhythms and the simplistic keyboard pattern propel the song into musical greatness.

"Kiss It All Better" is another melancholy song punctuated with a quiet acoustic guitar and keys. The longing for improvement in a relationship is clearly heard through the aching, delicate vocals. The emotion heard in them is heartbreaking. I felt as though I was losing someone just like the band was.

He is We demonstrates command of their individual talents and an exceptional ability of letting those talents work together to create beautiful sounds. I like the way they combine acoustic guitar and piano/keyboards to give their music a soft yet emotionally charged feel. I recommend them to fans of Charlotte Sometimes.

Here's a great live performance of their song, "Happily Ever After." What do you think of them? Comment and let me know what you think of their music.

Thank you for reading. Shuffle on.

Photo Credit: http://www.purevolume.com/HEISWE/photos/3165698