Björn Donath – “Peace Within”/ “Glow”
Björn Donath – “Peace Within”/ “Glow” – Singles Review
Right on…I dig instrumental guitar-based tunes, and I never really get enough of’em coming my way from the ol’ independent music scene – so welcome to you, Björn Donath, we’re happy to have ya!
As I was listening to his debut single “Peace Within” start up with such a gentle disposition gliding on the surface, and hearing the fiery way he’d back up his main melody along the way as the song began, you immediately get the impression that Donath has got a slick set of chops and could unleash the full brunt of his fireworks at any given moment. While I’m sure that IS true…I’ll admit, he played it pretty cool throughout the length of “Peace Within,” as the title somewhat implies he would do…and for about two & a half-minutes out of the nearly four, I remained fairly convinced he was going to keep this first offering of his fairly chilled out. Then around the 2:40 mark, Björn clearly couldn’t contain himself any long, and allows himself to really kick out the jams for what becomes the ride into the finale of “Peace Within.” Not too much I’d advise the guy on here after having a healthy listen to these first two tracks he’s released online…”Peace Within” sounds absolutely fantastic, and fits right in there with those that play their axes with genuine feel…you know…artists like Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, Gary Moore…that kind of company. Björn clearly has a lot of skill, and I suspect that while we get a glimpse of the depth he possesses in that regard on “Peace Within, I’d safely bet he’s got a whole bunch more talent in the tank that he has yet to reveal…and he’ll go on to stun us even more with what he can do. I look at “Peace Within” as smartly composed & equally poised…he’s really doing what the song itself is calling out for, and I feel like that was the right move. I’m sure he can probably shred with the best of’em if he felt so inclined, but that’s not what “Peace Within” was meant to be, you know? Björn plays this song with a range of calm, precision, and professionalism that gets the very best out of each and every note…and it makes all the difference in the appeal of the final product in the recording. From the production to the performance, his debut tune sounds absolutely stellar from start to finish – and one of the things I think I like best about it, is that it’s such an understated-but-bold & confident first step towards the spotlight, that you know he’s still got plenty of room to expand on his sound & what he shows us, but everything you’ll hear will completely confirm he’s more than ready to meet this moment of opportunity, head-on. Essentially, it’s a roundabout way of saying I really dig what I hear on “Peace Within,” and feel like he really nailed this debut from concept to execution…but even with my enthusiastic endorsement, I’d still be the first to tell ya I know he’s got more skill than he’s probably showing us here. You’ll find no real complaints from me regarding that though…I think it’s fairly crucial to make sure your first steps outta the gate prove you can hold your own, and Björn has absolutely done that with a flawless performance on “Peace Within,” that fully proves he’s got fantastic ideas, and the skills required to bring them to life.
With his more recent single “Glow,” you can probably hear a bit more of a lean towards something you might find in a song by Steve Vai…but it still has a bit of a noticeable Blues-influenced edge to it as well, which actually works brilliantly, in my opinion. I’m not usually one for the Blues at all when it comes right down to it, but I don’t tend to mind it as much when it’s an accent to the music I’m listening to and not the complete & total dominant trait. Björn has a great grip on how to use the Blues just enough, while still allowing his music to be defined by other means. He gets such a great rumble out of the low-end he’s using to support him while he plays his intricate melodies on the surface…I really dig the way he approaches these instrumental tunes he’s writing, and I can definitely hear the immense level of talent he possesses a bit more clearly as he seamlessly roams the frets on “Glow.” For myself on a personal level…I really don’t think I felt like I could choose between “Peace Within” and “Glow” without splitting the finest of hairs if I had to choose a favorite. I might slightly lean towards “Glow” on some days, but on others, I’d probably be just as quick to cite “Peace Within” as my favorite of the two for its mellower vibe. Make no mistake, they’re equally great songs, and the consistency that Björn Donath is already displaying as a new artist on the scene would make a lifelong veteran blush with jealousy. If he keeps this up, I have no doubt that he’ll find his way into the same great halls his heroes and influences have roamed throughout, and the very same stages they shared their music with the world from. I love everything I’ve heard from Björn so far…”Peace Within” delivers on what its title promises it will, and “Glow” was an exceptionally expressive song that is filled with an immaculate variety of highlights from start to finish. Definitely looking forward to hearing more of what Donath creates in the coming year, and seeing him surge onto playlists with this extraordinary level of confidence and precision combined. If you’re looking for a new guitar hero, I think we just found one – Björn is authentic, artistic, and highly skilled…I have no doubt that he’ll go on to continue to captivate us all with each new song he puts out.
Find out more about Björn Donath from his official website at: https://bjoerndonath.com
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