The Small Hours By Neil Patton

 

The Small Hours

By

Neil Patton

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It is interesting that music inspired by the recent pandemic is coming through the system now in way I was expecting it to do some two years ago, but it seems it has taken time for those incredible swathes of emotions, fears and concerns to filter into artistic endeavours, and thus create a healing narrative in such a cathartic manner, here Neil Patton has done that beautifully on his latest release The Small Hours.

This beautiful album is a vast collection of meaningful creations and some 15 tracks grace its charming covers, like the opening offering Day's End, there is a fluent melody here that is simply delicious, but also an energy that reminds us of the impossible task, to obtain sleep whilst the world writhed in confusion, but there is a powerful underpinned narrative that one day things will be right again.

There are many moods and emotions in this release, one that I found most poignant was the cautious and textured offering entitled Good to See You Again. Musically it reminded me of the first time of meeting friends again during the pandemic, that nervousness and apprehension of even being hugged, this composition by Patton I believe is his most sensitive work thus far, and I have albums dating back from him to 2007!

While we were locked away we all gazed from our windows as home took on an entirely different meaning, pieces like A Room with a View captured that sense of aloneness perfectly for me, whilst tracks like The Small Hours have been relevant to me lately, as I have seen most of them this week in one way or another, the presentation here by Patton here is carefully created and wonderfully played, manifesting such a gentle, yet all immersive energy in his performance.

The beauty of having a 15 track album of this elk is that there is usually something for everyone hidden within its realm, whether it be the mournful refrains of This Grief Lies Down Beside Me, or the alternate reality of the opening track Day’s End with the concluding tale entitled Daybreak, a piece that expands on that opening arrangement and gives us something that we need constantly now, hope!

The Small Hours by Neil Patton is indeed a cathartic musical journey through times of confusion and concern, with moments that highlighted our resilience and determination to carry on, and others that touched the humanity in us all. This is a powerful solo piano album indeed, and with each and every composition we can hear and feel, craft-fully narrated and arranged compositions that truly come from a place of unconditional love, and as such I see no reason why The Small Hours by Neil Patton should not be a huge hit on the charts, and possibly more.