Setting the tone with an enigmatic guitar soundscape and celestial riser, Alec Berlin opens Patchen Avenue with charm, intrigue and a masterful instrumental performance.
The opus expands with intricacy and an earworm of a melody whilst we experience an expansive, alternative country soundscape, as the composer and artist takes us on a trip through his spirit and soul.
With a cerebral high whistle tone, the piece is further dimensionalised, lending itself to a cinematic nature, ideal for synch deals and fit for a Hollywood blockbuster.
Mid-way though Patchen Avenue, we experience a brief meditative moment, before the piece rebuilds with a dynamic electric guitar performance showcasing not only the performance range of the artist, but his charisma.
The piece starts to climax with a more high octane energy as the emotion of the composition builds, and we are drawn deeper into the universe of the talented artist, holding a sense of timelessness and nostalgia, as well as keeping us rooted in the present moment.
Alec describes the intention of the piece as “a quiet, country-inflected instrumental ballad that invites you to reflect, celebrate, and mourn.” We learn that Alec Berlin has not only performed on Broadway, playing in Green Day’s American Idiot, Rent, Wicked, The Lion King, and Bright Star, but he has also shared stages with Elton John, James Taylor, Ben Folds, Kenny Wheeler, and Rufus Wainwright. Alec has also appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Good Morning America.
We love the sonic universe that he creates with his sound and authenticity, and have added Patchen Avenue to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream Alec Berlin‘s wider discography including his 2022 EP, What I Wish I Had Said.