They say life isn't about the destination, it's about the journey – and if one man knows something of the journey, it's Peter Freebairn.
The lifelong journeyman wound his guitar and that sweet, raspy voice across the land through multiple successful bands and ventures from the tender age of 14.From gigs in sand dunes to tunes premiering on American TV shows, Freebairn knows more than a little something of the breathtaking views from the top all the way to the exotic sights of the valley, each passage affording one invaluable thing – perspective.
Freebairn's first solo body of work, 'Silhouettes And Cigarettes', rings with truths that cut to the bone, insights that come only through experiences walked out. Each track provides a singular story that embodies its message through instrumental narrative and heart wrenching lyricism.
The album launches with 'World You Choose' that places the listener in happier places with pumping rhythm and steady strings. The chorus drops down sonically, emphasising the track's direct statements, before it heads right back onto the open highway.
"I hope the path that you take, leads you somewhere nice in the world that you choose," Freebairn sings, reminding the listener of both their autonomy and the hope of a better tomorrow. The acoustic guitar rings bright and clear, and worries seem to float out open windows. A kind gesture of creation, the track is a gift from a friend.
"All of my memories come back around," sings Freebairn bringing in 'Say Goodbye', and we're back to a smooth, acoustic vibe that feels like sweet coffee on a Sunday afternoon drive. The drums crash and lilt in the chorus, leaving momentary silence for reflection. It is very effective.
The bridge takes on a minor, modulating feel, before triumphant major guitar takes the final solo by the collar, shaking it vigorously. "How do you say goodbye when you don't wanna say goodbye?" Freebairn expresses tensely, as the track fades out unresolved, leaving you with the desire to find answers in a second listen but knowing it will only lead to more questions. Intelligent and brilliant.
'You And I' rides in on acoustic melodies that bring an instant smile. "Hey lonely day you got me blind, going nowhere it seems at the speed of light," Freebairn sings, another timely reminder of life's fleeting impermanence.
"If I fall from grace, if the nights get hard to face, you and I, just a beautiful mystery," he croons, the chorus instrumentation crashing in mid-phrase like light pouring into a dark place. We had to have our hearts torn open one last time it seems. A perfectly tasteful final guitar solo precedes another gentle moment of silence used so effectively throughout the album, drawing you back to conscious awareness. The song ends with one final, provocative crash, leaving endless possibilities.
On 'Crazy Love', Freebairn's vocals precede dreamy acoustic chords and a funky electric guitar riffing through the fills in the verse. "No warm kiss, it's over now," Freebairn cries in the chorus, his voice longing yet resolute. His smooth falsetto takes the second chorus with an edge of regret, emotion swaying between relief and fear of the unknown.
The drums pump into a chorused guitar solo that drops out with a sense of anticipation, before the final chorus hits. A warm ride through touching sentimentality and simultaneous heartbreak, a nice sense of contradiction broods. A track that deserves a second listen.
'Home Town' begins with a Mayer-esque acoustic rhythm, Freebairn's falsetto tone drawing you in, wondering where the song will go. "Be around good people that we have found," Freebairn entices the listener with the gentle appeal of the familiar and fragile, reminding you that sometimes the quiet life is exactly what you need.
The track swells with tingling warmth as a strong, smooth guitar solo reminds you of a high-school lover left behind. The track then fades, like so often the memories of nostalgia, creating a sudden urge to return home and make new ones. A highly emotional track, Freebairn's songwriting and gritty vocals excel.
'Silhouette' begins with heavily delayed guitars swirling sombre chords around your head that sting like cigarette smoke. The track's metaphor is effective; what exactly Freebairn is describing lacks shape and creates mystery. Is it love? His career? We're left with only shadows.
'Say Goodbye (Reprise)' arrives with the hope of answers, but strings and a slower tempo driven by piano just tear your heart open a little wider. Freebairn's vocals shine in a variety of contexts throughout the album, but here something calls especially deep. A welcome inclusion.
The final stop on the album, 'I Got Lucky (I Got You)' takes an unexpected turn via a vocoder intro fading into rock rhythms and. . . is that a xylophone? "They found love in a Maserati rollin' down to the Mississippi," Freebairn enters with swagger, and your toes are tapping.
He sings the title line as the soundscape expands to landscape view for a glorious few moments, drawing back to centre for the second verse. A heavy bridge winds up like a mountain pass, peaking in a glorious xylophone solo before the final chorus cuts in. Expertly crafted, the song walks the fine line between being immensely enjoyable and a touching reminder that it is the people we share it with that make life worth living. An excellent track.
Wise, sentimental and thought-provoking, 'Silhouettes And Cigarettes' changes you in the way all meaningful journeys should. Each perfect blend of emotive vocals with balanced instrumentation is an unexpectedly stunning view 'round a corner that reaches inside you, revealing something you never knew was there.
You are left with newfound passion for experiencing the unknown armed with a healthy dose of reality checks in the backseat. If this album is anything to go by, Freebairn has many more exciting journeys ahead of him.
