Establishing the mood with a high octane and intricate, psychedelic soundscape, Dan Webb opens Things Rise and Fall with notions of universal consciousness and a kaleidoscopic edge. The opus expands with a sublime melodic synth and we appreciate the cohesive tapestry of sound that manifests.
There is a trippy, 8-bit energy which reminds us of 90s video games like Mario Kart and Sonic The Hedgehog. There is also an unmistakable cinematic allure as the textured drums drive us forwards. The build and key change create a euphoric energy, leading us towards a climactic moment with layered synth lines, and an eventual breakdown and meditative fade out that leaves us yearning for more.
The track feels almost like a journey through different dimensions or the game of life. Nothing stays still for very long. Jazz, rock and electronica elements collide and mutate. It creates something that feels organic yet kinda futuristic. We learn that at the heart of Things Rise and Fall is Taoist philosophy and the understanding that everything exists in cycles. This really comes through and is cemented by the artwork for the song. The track intentionally draws from Laozi’s Tao Te Ching, making its constantly evolving arrangement feel even more intentional.
We could imagine Things Rise and Fall soundtracking a psychedelic sequence in a movie like the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, or a cosmic passage in Interstellar, or even one of the more cerebral moments from Doctor Strange.
Needless to say, the musicianship is extraordinary. Logan Kane provides the bass, while Clive Deamer, known for his work with Radiohead and Portishead, contributes drums. Stevie Blacke, whose credits include Beck and Mark Ronson, adds strings, whilst Nate Werth brings percussion.
Things Rise and Fall is the second single from Lion Dance, Dan Webb’s forthcoming fifth album, inspired in part by his relocation from Melbourne to Singapore as well as his immersion in Southeast Asian culture and Taoist philosophy. The album’s title itself came from witnessing a lion dance in Da Nang, Vietnam, an experience that Webb describes as a moment of communal magic.
We have added Things Rise and Fall to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Dan Webb, including Hungry Ghosts, and the entirety of his album, Sunshine/Dialogue.