Fredericton musician and consummate storyteller Colin Fowlie has just dropped a short but sweet look into his upcoming album and it’s a great sample of what’s to come.
The Amusement Park EP consists of three songs — four, if you count the radio edit of “Compel You.” It’s a quick but dynamic listen, as each song has a distinct sound and style to it. One spanning similarity, however, is the expertise with which Fowlie is able to craft a story or visual. This is done through imaginative lyrics, but he often steps back to let the backing instrumentals take the wheel. Both are equally powerful and effective options.
The EP starts with “Sanctuary,” a somber ballad of self-struggle. The track tells of the dangerous comfort locking yourself away can offer, and this theme is present in the lazy, peaceful backing. Fowlie’s soaring voice hits in the chorus, however, shaking the chains away a bit.
The rest of the EP is a bit more of a slap in the face than it’s opening. The title track is a life lesson packaged in bluesy riffs. “Compel You” has an opening that will immediately hook you with the sheer bluntness of it, so much so that it required a radio edit on the following track.
“Compel You” features a duet with Michelle Morrison, who had previously appeared on the title track for Fowlie’s previous EP, Harmony. Morrison’s voice melds nicely with Fowlie’s; they both have the same level of grit and soul. The harmonies on this track are beautiful, and Morrison’s presence adds a level of depth and complexity to the lyrics.
Morrison isn’t the only talent Fowlie has brought in for Amusement Park, though. While she may stand out as a vocalist, there are some choice musicians joining Fowlie, including Steve Hubbard on lead guitar and Dillon Anthony (the designated go-to pedal steel guy of the east coast) appearing on the opening track.
Fowlie is in his element as a storyteller and lyricist. A quick listen through this EP seems to touch on each of the tones that are going to be present on the full album. It’s an easy but enjoyable way to prepare for the upcoming album, if you don’t mind the frustration when you realize you’ve listened to the whole thing and are hungry for more.