The wait is finally over. After months of conceptual EPs and sneak peeks, Colin Fowlie is finally releasing the full result of his new album, Party Music. Fowlie has spent the past few months drip-feeding us this album in the way of two EPs. The first, “Harmony,” was released in October of 2018, while “Amusement Park” was released in February of this year.
It’s satisfying to see the way this album came together. While it’s true that a good chunk of these songs have been out in the world for a while, there’s something refreshing about listening to them in the context of the full album. ‘Amusement Park’ was originally the bluesy black sheep of the EP, and it packs the same punch on the album by following a few softer opening songs.
Fowlie’s narrative prowess is a selling point for any of his work, and that’s certainly the case with this project. Fowlie weaves stories with such conviction that the line between inspiration and experience becomes blurred. It’s easy to believe that Fowlie has lived through these experiences himself, and that results in some interesting reactions.
For instance, songs like “Photograph” are so gut-wrenchingly bittersweet and nostalgic that it truly feels like Fowlie is singing straight from the heart. This nostalgia is something that Fowlie tackles a lot over the course of the album, easily building up to be the main theme. The distinct harmonies on “Modern Love Story” play into this as well.
On the other hand, you have the dark fiction that is “Harmony”. When paired with the trust Fowlie elicits in his listeners, this song is a jarring listen bordering on disturbing. It’s only when you reach the end that you realize it obviously didn’t really happen – Fowlie is just that good. It helps to have Michelle Morrison’s characterization as well. The track’s she’s present on really help bring the story to life. “Compel You” is another great example.
Since we’ve been getting tastes of this album for a while, there are no huge surprises. However, it’s still thrilling to see the way these puzzle pieces have all come together to create a cohesive picture. The album a great showcase of Fowlie’s narrative and musical talents that offers some satisfaction for anyone who’s been impatiently waiting to see how the story would end.