It’s an interesting release, this. Reading the blurb, you learn that Keane Baldwin‘s three main musical idols are, perhaps less surprisingly, Elton John, but then also Chris Martin and Gary Barlow. Before you balk at that and hastily move on, I should point out that, while Baldwin may cite them as unwitting songwriting mentors, his compositions often have more in common with the lighthearted romanticism of Belle and Sebastian or, occasionally, Sufjan Stevens.
These songs are ridiculously pretty, and according to the accompanying blurb, “looks at Keane’s life growing up working class with a brother with special needs, suffering numerous mental health issues and the grief of the most important person in his life.” Knowing this makes these songs all the more powerful, despite their whimsical nature. The closing track, ‘The Farewell Man‘ in particular, has that haunting spirit that permeated ‘Grassman‘ by Dodgy on their Homegrown album.
Much credit should go to Keane Baldwin here for creating such an affecting set of songs, in which I would say he’s done his brother proud. Elsewhere the fanciful ‘my biggest fan‘ recalls The Monkees, Burt Bacharach and Gilbert O’Sullivan in equal measure during the verses. In fact, there certainly is at least a modicum of the 1960s sprinkled over these six numbers. I mean that in the most endearing of ways.
There’s not much else to say about it, really, except that if you love well-crafted, laid back pop songs, then In Spite Of Everything will undoubtedly be right up your alley. It really is quite lovely.
In Spite Of Everything is self-released on 4th April.
Main photo taken from Keane Baldin’s Facebook page.
