Review: October Sky- Yebba
- by Adam Bailey
- in Reviews
Often times, when we have something important to say, we take a big breath in…. then out it comes. In the first second of October Sky, we hear Yebba take a breath in before the vocals. I love the production team for keeping this in, as it sets up the introduction to Yebba’s heavenly vocals perfectly!
Musically, the folk guitar fingerpicking provides a great base that allows an important story to unfold. The strings fade in at the right time, helping to emphasize parts of the story and sprinkles of piano interludes help accentuate the movement from pre-chorus into chorus, in a subtle and gentle way.
The first verse opens up like a comforting but haunting lullaby. The lyrics, and Celtic-like vocal shades, work so well together, that I would have been just as happy to have this style continue on for hours, however, Yebba, in her infinite wisdom, had way more in store for us.
A work of art like this deserves light and shade and in the second verse, there is an increase in intensity, both musically, with the introduction of percussion and lyrically by delving into the aspects of city life. Yebba shows off her soulful vocal style here with superb vocal runs. Her control is insanely good, and the vocal runs are not overdone, and belong in the song.
The key to this song is the lyrics, which poetically paint a portrait of family, love and loss. A highlight for me is the following line;
“There’s a picture of us, in a layer of dust, on the mantel, right by my cigarettes that I smoke since you left, cause you said you had to fly… in your October sky.”
This line is so cool, yet so gut wrenching, that it needs to be printed on canvas and displayed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art, where it belongs.
October Sky, is a modern masterpiece, it’s a unique message in a bottle, floating in the sea, just waiting to be discovered by the masses that both need & want something authentic and resonant to hug & cherish.
October sky is Yebba’s first single release off her album “Dawn”, expected for release in September 2021.
