The title of CS Hellmann recent single instantly grabbed our attention with its apocalyptic connotations, ‘Dagger In The Sun’. It evokes an image of doing the impossible, of risking it all, of taking aim at the insurmountable. Putting this idea in context of this Nashville-based artist’s ’80s and ’90s-inspired jangle-pop style and, of course, we found this seemingly oxymoronic combination irresistible.
Recorded at the secluded Polychrome Ranch with longtime producer Jared Corder, ‘Dagger In The Sun’ pulls listeners in with sloping guitar melodies, steady percussion and a hypnotic groove. This atmospheric soundscape perfectly sets the tone for Hellmann‘s hushed vocals, which draw out emotional intimacy that sits somewhere between Elliott Smith’s openness and Matt Berninger’s presence. It all centres on a borrowed lyric from The Heavy Heavy’s ‘Happiness’, “like a dagger into the sun,” which found its way into Hellmann‘s mind.
As the track progresses, those sloping guitar melodies and steady percussion dig further down into deeper, darker and moodier textures. With that, this songwriter peels back more of the human psyche, such as in lines like “there’s no way out, scream and shout, it’s too late now, bring me back down.” He artfully conveys that human desire to escape, to grow, to be seen, to go back and fix all of our mistakes; yet this is all a fallacy. The only way forward is through honesty and that’s what CS Hellmann does so well on ‘Dagger In The Sun‘.
You can also listen to ‘Dagger In The Sun’ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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