Drawing us in with immersive melodic layers manifesting as electronica designed with horns and synths, Baby Tapir opens Bright And Morningstar with cerebral, compressed vocals and the situational yet metaphorical prose, “They tried to stop you from the start, gave you the test before you taught, it got pretty dark for a while, when we thought it all was lost like a rose out in the frost, you came to warm it up, bright and morningstar…”
The opus expands into a dimensional synthscape with astral frequencies and textured drums as Baby Tapir questions the suppression of the human connection and mercy from the divine. A sonic switch up to a dramatic minor key for the middle eight before a euphoric reprise and choral harmonies adds dynamism to the already cohesive and intricate tapestry of sound.
There is no doubt that Bright And Morningstar holds a cinematic allure and we could imagine the song landing a sync placement in a film like Drive, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or Call Me By Your Name, or a TV show like The OA, Heated Rivalry, Euphoria or Crew Girl.
Baby Tapir explains that the song “can be taken a number of ways” and is open to interpretation, which we love. There is definitely a high spiritual quotient that manifests with the prose though, even though artist Chris Beck creates a sonic environment where we can project our own experiences. It becomes a meditation on connection, darkness, faith and the possibility of warmth arriving when we least expect it. The spiritual dimension is also impossible to ignore. Chris says, “The spirit world is very real. And at some point you have to make a decision about where you fit in it.”
Based in Milwaukee, the multi-instrumentalist handles everything himself, from writing and performing to recording and mixing. He recorded Bright And Morningstar at home, taking considerable time to find the right words and melodies. Those walks and periods of reflection seem to have found their way into the finished recording.
His influences are equally eclectic, with MGMT, They Might Be Giants and Foster The People mentioned. We could also imagine fans of Sufjan Stevens and The Postal Service connecting with what Baby Tapir has created.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Bright And Morningstar to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Baby Tapir including Back The Blue, Big Show Offs, and Dream Vacation.