Orville Peck is one of those rare artists who come along and define a moment in time. The masked queer cowboy is genuinely game changing for the country music community, and has paved the way for more acceptance in a genre that has always been quite conservatory. 2021 was a big year for the Canadian singer-songwriter which saw him conduct his biggest US headlining tour yet with a date at Red Rocks, opened for Harry Styles at Madison Square Garden, became the face of Beyonce’s Ivy Park Rodeo Collection, and featured on Lady Gaga’s reimagined ‘Born This Way’ album. But 2022 is already shaping up to rival that success with the release of his sophomore record ‘Bronco’ slated for release on April 8.
Splitting the album into different chapters, he has unveiled Chapter 1 with four stunning songs as he welcomes listeners into the country world he’s created. Layered with authenticity sonically and lyrically, this EP sets the tone perfectly for what fans can expect from the Johnny Cash meets Elvis Presley soundscape with a modern day twist.
Opening track and lead single ‘C’mon Baby, Cry’ is the song you are going to fall in love with almost immediately. The Roy Orbison esq and vintage aesthetic is intoxicating, his vocal is melt-worthy, and the cinematic vision is so vivid that it will instantly pull you in. ‘Daytona Sand’ then steers into this Bruce Springsteen inspired country track that highlights his growth in hook writing with him infectiously spelling out Mississippi at the end. ‘Outta Time’ has this calming tone while he experiments with more of an electric soundscape before closing the first chapter with the full country soundscape of ‘Any Turn’.
The fact that this is only 4/15 tracks from the album, and only the first chapter in what is to come, then Orville Peck might just have one of the best albums of the year in the wings.
Orville Peck 2022 Australian Tour
Wednesday 20 July – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday 22 July – Splendour In The Grass, Byron Bay
Sunday 24 July – Forum, Melbourne