Rob Richings has had to work hard to get this EP out, but not in the conventional sense. In 2009 he was diagnosed with a rare and severe form of Colitis, and he spent six years battling the illness, having three major operations and finally recovering from something that could have killed him. The experience gave him a new lease of life and an appreciation for every day, as he buried himself in writing and recording to come up with his debut EP ‘Half Way Up’. It’s a reflective and starkly honest observational record that could only have come from the depths of darkness Rob rose from.
The four-track EP opens with the title offering, a sweet little anti-pop folk song that is accentuated by ukulele, acoustic guitar and tinkling piano, smooth harmonies lifting the chorus onto a serene stage. Throughout the record Rob reminds me of Passenger both sonically and lyrically, and nowhere is that more evident than on the title track. It’s full of curious and poignant observations on the actions and feelings we share in the rat race, just trying to get along in this mixed-up, shallow world, whether we’re on a low wage or a high one. The more cheery, infectious and upbeat follow-up ‘Richer Man’ continues this narrative and grounds it in Rob’s own specific experiences growing up in Swindon, exploring the streets and the characters that inhabit them. Yet despite the specificity, the things Rob describes are familiar to all of our upbringings, once again showing how he can truthfully interpret real life in a way that is direct and universal.
‘Carnival’ also draws on his own experiences to make a wider observation on the human race, although this is perhaps more personal in places than anything else on the EP. The final verse makes references to Rob’s struggles of recent years, affording him a perspective on the bigger picture that few are allowed, as he reflects on all of our emotional trials and tribulations that go beyond the differences.
It’s clear on this EP that Rob is a fan of storytelling and exploring the tales of others, and this can be found on the record’s closer, ‘Lord In The Attic’. The inspiration for this delicate (albeit polished) folk ballad came via a 17th century Clandestine Church called Amstelkring, deep in the heart of Amsterdam. Rob visited there and was instantly moved by the spirituality and peace of the building, leading him to write a song inspired by the church’s history; once upon a time, Catholics would use it to worship in secret and avoid persecution for the practising of their beliefs. “I was able to sit and write the entire song in my head, imagining these people creeping up the stairs to worship. It was an incredible experience,” Rob explains. The result is a gentle expression of equal parts defiance and reverence, one that builds in texture as it progresses.
Rob Richings’ ‘Half Way Up’ EP is a reserved but beautiful little record that strikes a lyrical chord with its poetic but upfront musings on human beings. Musically it flirts with folk, pop and indie, carving out further a niche that is also inhabited by the likes of Passenger and Jamie Lawson. It’s perhaps not country as we would know it, but it’s very well written and rather lovely to listen to. ‘Half Way Up’ EP drops November 20 and Rob is currently in the midst of putting together his debut full-length album. Look out for that.
Originally posted here.
