Indie-folk artist Christian Alexander‘s latest single, “You,” is the first glimpse into his latest project with a shift into minimal, homemade sounds that fans of Big Thief and Beirut will love.
The song is largely instrumental, with coarse acoustic guitars starting off “You.” Overlaying melodies quickly fill up the space as woodwind-like synths give a slower ascending melody. A clean bass is the last texture in the first half of the song, giving a smooth contrast to the other crass instruments.
The fast rhythm of the acoustic guitars already set the pace for the song, but the addition of a running snare in the second half only adds to the anticipation. Further adding to this fanfare are the horns sending “You” out. Most of the synths sound like they’re going through a tape machine and have added grain to them, which gives the song a quality reminiscent of 1970s folk-rock bands.
There aren’t many lyrics in the song, with a much greater focus being put on the overall atmosphere. Still, there is a single verse and chorus that describe a lovestruck feeling with someone “perfect” and “unforgettable.” In the chorus, the line “I fall for you” plays on repeat. The lyrics are clearly there for decoration rather than for any sustainable meaning.
“You” by Christian Alexander sits comfortably in the space of lo-fi folk with a nostalgic intention. While brief, the song still appeals to fans of both the folk and lo-fi genre, giving a sense of what to expect from Alexander’s upcoming project.
