It’s hard to believe that State Champs’ Ryan Scott Graham has found any spare time to work on a solo project, but in fact Speak Low If You Speak Love was the bassist’s first love - and that’s made clear by his captivatingly personal new album.
With a heady mix of acoustic love letters (‘Contrasting Colors’) and pop-tinged indie (‘Ever Yours’), it’s far more experimental than his guitar-focused debut. Strutting basslines and infectious harmonies colour ‘Enough’, but it’s on ballads like ‘Cannot Have It All’ where Graham lays his heart bare and consequently shines. Though lengthy, ‘Nearsighted’ is a fascinating and moving listen.
