Alt-rock virtuoso Olly E goes it alone on ‘Rise Above,’ and he crushes it. From the outset, the track is thrilling, and the variety of courses it takes as it progresses keeps us on our toes.
‘Rise Above,’ which manages to allow Olly’s vision to unfold, delivers more than initially meets the eye. It’s energising to examine the production deep because there’s so much going on. It starts with a guitar lead overture, followed by some dramatic synth organs. The opening rises to a climax with its crashing crescendo, and a light kick drum taps ahead of the verse. It’s an oeuvre that Olly E has been honing for a long time.
The drums remain at a distance for most of the entrance. It allows the energy to develop and sound even more epic when it all comes together in the refrain. However, it appears like the chorus drums are missing a lot of thunder, which is a shame because Olly had fantastic potential to make them even more exciting. The drums are possibly the only part of the mix that might use some additional work.
Olly’s voice has a remarkable quality, and his laid-back tone gives the soundscape oozing from the speakers a new edge. But it’s the guitar solos in the ending section that are the actual thrill, and it’s a shame it takes so long to hear them!