Riley’s House is a very organic and real sounding recording, one that leaves plenty of space around the song and the essence of its meaning within which listeners can really pick up on and relate to the feelings behind it all. The track has a very classic country set-up, the riding bass line has a welcome simplicity and warmth to it, the acoustic guitar sound is live and in the moment, right there with you, as is the leading vocal. Structurally the song does all that it needs to, the songwriting is effective, the set up to the hook works well, the storytelling is captivating and the rhyme scheme has plenty about it that is memorable. The whole Riley’s House hook is instantly memorable, and it works well in among the overall energy of the piece and the general good vibes put out by this sort of music.
The track appears to be a live performance, perhaps a one-take recording, again adding to that organic, raw and real musicality mentioned earlier. When the bigger sections come into play the sound isn’t quite as flawless and crisp as a more intense studio session might produce, but this again is something that really does add to the realness – it gives you a genuine glimpse of what this music and this artist, and all the musicians involved, would be like at a live show. The experience is very honest and everything is laid bare for you to enjoy. The track gets caught in your mind easily, and the joyful warmth of the leading vocal, particularly during the verses, is the sort that is likely to bring listeners back for more – and simultaneously suggest that local listeners seek out a performance in the near future.
By Rebecca Cullen
Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing
