Maximilian – ‘Diurnals’ EP review: Rustic ruminations seek to soothe
For an EP recorded during the weekend of the Super Beaver Moon, Maximilian’s ruminative, rustic Diurnals bears the mark of a daytime’s sweet nectar more than it does the nighttime’s obscurity, speaking with compassion, clarity, and celestial certainty with a mature indie/folk-baroque-pop cadence.
The Skinny: In a time when art has embraced abrasiveness to shock and disturb us from the ever-worsening status quo, Brighton-based singer-songwriter Maximilian is absolutely committed to using music to soothe and soften the edges of life.
On EP opener, ‘Soft Song For A Worried Mind’, a chamber-pop backdrop leads Maximilian into a major-key chorus, where he follows the melody of a quivering piano line, like a path lit with yellow streetlamps.
After a twangier turn of phrase, we are treated with a dose of general lyricism so readily applicable to life: “No matter what happens now, know that I’ve already won, because I know you,” Maximilian sings on ‘I Know You’, in an echo of Big Thief’s more optimistic lyricism.
It might be safe, but Diurnals is also sure-footed; there are full-bodied moments scattered throughout, such as the swelling swing sections in ‘Rest Your Head’ rippled outwards with an up-and-down bass structure, and the rustic charm of ‘I Know You’, recorded in one take, with all the musicians in the same room. His voice sounds Elliott Smith-like on the gentle, trepidatious ‘Lightning Strike’.
Yet, for all the gushing heart and honesty in Diurnals, a piece of the puzzle is missing: A final song to house the bouquet, an admittance of blemishes, a point of friction. The songs are a salve, one that works to mask an issue without tackling it head-on. Things fester in the meantime, but at least the world sounds beautiful when the pain kicks in.
Standout Track: ‘Rest Your Head’
The Verdict: Maximilian has explained that the intended message of Diurnals is to “vocalise gratitude, positivity, compassion, and love”. The songs might not last after their run time, but the feelings sure do, love and light in equal measure. We’re all left greedy for more.
Release Date: May 8th | Producer: Samuel Williams Jones | Label: Crafting Room Recordings
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