REVIEW: Yoke Lore’s ‘Toward a Never Ending New Beginning’ Balances Folk Roots and Indie-Pop Greatness
AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF WRITING, PRODUCING, AND TOURING — Yoke Lore has released his debut album, Toward a Never Ending New Beginning. It’s clear that the artist, also known as Adrian Galvin, has put in the hours and built up his skills as an award-winning songwriter to create a stunning debut. From writing early 2000s hits such as Walk the Moon’s “Anna Sun,” to viral hits such as “Beige,” Galvin has already proven his place in the indie-pop scene.
After consistently releasing singles and EPs, Galvin has revealed that good things really do come to those who wait. For everyone who's stuck it out, Galvin’s album simultaneously feels like a warm homecoming and a warm introduction for those finding his work for the first time.
Opening the debut with bright introductory tune “Cruciform I,” Galvin immediately establishes the album’s light, sparkly quality. These uplifting details are supported by warm guitar tones and rich harmonies, which are a staple you can identify throughout the project. In previous singles, Galvin has pleased listeners by incorporating his signature banjo licks, and the opening of this album is no exception. The intro track effortlessly flows into “Softy,” which features that recognizable tinny banjo twang.
Long-time fans will feel that the first half of Toward a Never Ending New Beginning feels familiar. It includes all of the structures of some of Galvin’s earlier tracks, such as in “Beige” and “Goodpain.” It almost feels like a strategy to get listeners comfortable before introducing a new side to his music.
In transition track “Test Tube Messiah,” a short and sweet song filled to the brim with exciting musicality and dreamy harmonies, a new facet of Galvin is apparent. It’s the shorter tracks that allow the production of the album to shine — “Test Tube Messiah” is reminiscent of a James Blake track, utilizing the softest sprinkle of autotune and electronic flourishes.
Galvin seems to use these tracks to connect the dots between his folk roots and the bigger indie-pop sound that he goes for later in the project.
Toward a Never Ending Beginning is soft around the edges, which is encapsulated in the more laid-back indie-pop tracks that lead up to the pinnacle moment in “Enough.” This track encompasses the full spectrum of emotions that most young people feel when they get involved with a person they love, showcasing the strength of Gavin's songwriting with intricate production choices.
The track culminates in a powerful chorus, in which Galvin cathartically shouts, “And I don’t wanna fuck it up.” The lyrics on the track are concise and poignant, getting to the root of feeling worried and nervous while in a relationship you don’t want to lose; there's the fear of making mistakes and losing someone that you've put on a pedestal.
With a knack for creating balance throughout his album, each song on Galvin’s newest project that features big, powerful moments is complemented by a modest, dreamy track. Some standout songs that play with this balance include “Winona,” in the latter part of the album, which perpetually works to even the scales. It’s a track that would fit perfectly in a coming-of-age movie, with finger-picking banjo lines that set the scene before it builds up to a booming, open chorus. There's a modern indie-pop feel to it, with the addition of a driving electronic drum beat that leads into the lone vocals of the pre-chorus.
The entire album has this sense of push and pull. These feelings are strongly executed in both “Winona” and “Enough.” They’re choruses that make you want to scream along while the rest of the songs lull you in gentle contemplation.
Toward a Never Ending Beginning feels like it was written to soundtrack life. If you’re looking for an album to put on to have a main character moment, this is the one. Galvin showcases his knack for lyricism and balance throughout the album. He ebbs and flows between high-energy indie pop and mellow folk tunes that ground listeners and give a subtle nod to his musical roots.
