[Review] Goldberg- “Comprehend” Ft. Jonny Trumpet and Mikey Phats

Utilizing a variety of musical influences, ranging from Soul to Hip-Hop, Goldberg artfully crafts relatable tunes that uniquely express the human condition. A sound that has been described by some, as “Electric Soul.” Teamed up with a stellar group of musicians (Jonny Trumpet, Mikey Phatz, and Nadir Baaset) as well as audio engineer Justin Daniel, and world class producer Another Monster. They have produced a sound that is both natural, and electronic which comes together in a unique and refreshing way, giving Goldberg the perfect melodic canvas to paint on with his raw, sometimes sweet sounding voice.

A proficient video editor and director, Goldberg is always working with many creative cinematic minds to create music videos that further explain the meaning of the sound and words. In his interview with the Ark of Music, Goldberg expressed how important it is that the meaning of each piece of music is clearly understood ; ” I want to write songs that relate more to what people are actually going through. A lot of the media today is focused so much on material growth, when in reality a lot of us are not… I really hope that these are messages people can really take in, really hear ya know?” With his first official single release, “Let’s Dance,” Goldberg has already received some amazing reviews. He was the featured Artist of the Month on the online music blog The Ark of Music, he was also featured on 99X’s local feature “Must Not Suck”,and was also awarded Artist of the Week by Kennesaw State’s student run radio station, Owl Radio.

The song opens with a beautifully soulful vocal melody and string of reflective lyrics that immediately provoke thought. The ambiance of the music furthers this feeling of being inclined to consider things more deeply. As the rhythm sets in, the energy and good vibes of the music multiplies, fusing superbly with this soulful, questioning concept and the ongoing, deeply human lyricism. It’s an unusual meeting of moments, the laid back energy of the music, the good vibes, the electric guitar, later the acoustic riff, the reggae rhythm, the soulful voice – unusual in the best and most effective possible way. The energy of it draws you in, the concept holds you captive, the melody soaks and surrounds you, and one listen quickly becomes far from enough.

It’s the sort of song you can genuinely develop an addiction to. These ideas that are considered by so many, on a fairly regular basis, expressed within the song in a way that both reveals and connects – it shows you the truth of your own thoughts, in a way, and it lets you know you’re not alone in feeling this way. Rather than take the road of being some sad and melancholic piece of music, gently exploring the sentiment – the artists involved take the concept by storm, approaching it head on in a way that lays bear the passion and frustration, the emotion, the confusion, the fear, the regret, the sadness.

From a songwriting perspective the whole thing evolves beautifully. There’s a distinct thread, the voice, the key melody, the musicality to some extent, but there’s so much change and development, and this beautifully represents the constant change and confusion or questioning nature put forth by the lyrics. The leading voice drives the heart of the song brilliantly. It’s a soulful and stylish voice that provides those gentler moments and those full throttle, heavier ones equally well.

By Rebecca Cullen

Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing