PledgeMusic has been a resource many a musician has been using recently to make sure that their work sees the light of day and then promoted further. Check out the list of some names there and you would be surprised. But then it is also a resource for those musicians that feel they need more exposure which seems to be missing, even though they are getting rave reviews and have a (small, albeit) hardcore following.
Birmingham, England author Chris Tye, definitely fits in the second category. His previous (first) album got rave reviews with raising questions - why isn’t this guy big yet? Judging by “Stronger in Numbers” (that should help too), that question should be posed again - why not? Tye has a great sense of melody and harmony and his arrangements can be put into that category some would like to call baroque pop (a bit subdued though). Try, for example, the arrangement and harmonies on “More Than A Dream” here. But then check the names Tye himself cites as his musical references from the “classic” names like The Beatles and Paul Simon through cult favorites like Nick Drake and John Martyn, to more modern day names like Grizzly Bear.
“The influences do show here and there - “Love On The Line” starts off like a number from one of classic Paul Simon albums, and then adds a chorus ELO’s Jeff Lynne (one of those that carry The Beatles torch high) would be really proud of. But then, a question arises, so what if they show? And secondly, Tye ties them in seamlessly it really makes no difference. What also makes this album such a rewarding listen is that Tye knows his way did words, coming up with the lyrics that complement the quality of the music.
The key thing with “Strong With Numbers” is that it is one of those “grower” albums - no killer “radio-friendly” number, but just the music that reveals more and more with every listen.
I presume that both the title and the cover made to go along are some kind of tongue-in-cheek message because there might be a cast of friends and family playing on it, but it is definitely Tye’s show and he has definitely come up with a good one.
