John Arter reminds us in his new single “The Fall” that by the end of the day, nothing would ever matter if not for risk. The country-folk-acoustic single does not waste any time sweeping you into momentum with a surging rhythm section, complete with swirling guitar lines that spiral in an urgent forward motion, conjuring up the thematic pull of what is sure to be fall.
As Arter’s unmistakable voice enters on the song’s first inhale, he sings with an immediacy that is impossible to shield oneself emotionally from. The song is defined by that universal waterfall metaphor, the beauty, danger, and unstoppable force of falling in love when every single bone in your body is telling you to turn back. It’s the music version of that moment where you know the drop is coming, and you still lean in.
The song serves as the fourth and final single from Arter’s forthcoming full-length album, “Not Just A Story,” a record woven out of richly spun yarns and hard-lived realities. It was already heralded by the singles such as “The Many Ways,” “Last Ride,” and the poignant collaboration with Liv May Younger, each a different piece of the rich human storytelling Arter has come to be known for.
In its feel, this song takes the reflective chill of ZBB’s “Colder Weather” and springs underneath that foreboding Springsteen “I’m On Fire” like tension, along with a brand of unpredictable emotional outbursts, all within a Wilco-like range, all smothered in early Kings of Leon grit. The latest single is a slow-moving storm, in which the acoustic guitar weaves warmth against a steady heartbeat from the rhythm section. Every note has a meaning, mostly leading to the emotional climax of the song.
“The Fall” straddles that line of openness and strength. Arter articulates the chaos of succumbing to love’s tug, and he allows you to experience the elation as it happens through sheer momentum, leading them right up to the edge and jumping together into darkness. It’s a song that stays with you like the resonance of water falling at the foot of the falls. With “The Fall,” John Arter not only brings closure to a chapter but creates the perfect set-up for what sounds like one of the absolute best debut full-lengths coming later on. It is storytelling in its purest form, each word, chord, and breath counting.
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