Establishing the mood with a sublime electric guitar performance, tapping into a high emotional quotient featuring textured drums, Thomas Deed and Steffi open Always Almost with poetic prowess and the situational lyrics as Steffi sings, “I saw you in the springtime light, a glance and smile then gone from sight, we chased our dreams in different shoes, and lived a life we didn’t choose…”
The opus expands with Thomas’s captivating vocals. It eventually evolves into a duet as the pair take us on a journey of missed opportunities and a love that refuses to cease. We immediately connect with the narrative-driven songwriting, and how the alternating perspectives allow us to experience the story from both sides. It really does make the emotional connection feel super human and relatable.
In essence, Always Almost tells the story of two people whose paths continue to cross throughout their lives, but never at the right moment. They find themselves in different relationships, pursuing different dreams, but there is always a sense of proximity at play. There is something beautifully bittersweet about this concept. Thomas Deed and Steffi capture this tension with an authentic emotionality.
We love how the composition gradually builds with the multi-part choruses adding a theatrical quality to the narrative. The warm pop-rock instrumentation and blues influences with additional strings create a nostalgic sensibility too. Thomas and Steffi complement one another beautifully. Their vocal interplay gives the track a conversational quality that makes it feel almost like we are witnessing two people finally admitting what they have always felt. The key change also really amplifies the emotional energy of the song and taps into our heart’s centre.
The message of Always Almost is ultimately one of reassurance. We could easily imagine Always Almost landing a sync placement in a romantic drama or coming-of-age movie like The People We Meet On Vacation, or Purple Hearts. It would also work well for the Oscar-winning, One Battle After Another.
Naturally, we are enthralled by what Thomas Deed and Steffi have created, and Always Almost feels like a deeply sincere celebration of timing, connection and the possibility of finding your way home. We have added the track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to explore the wider work of both artists.