Experimentally blissful and tender, “Three” EP by Owen Young is emotionally reflective Amalgamation of Americana and folk music. This three track EP is the third chapter of the four-EP ‘Muddy River’ series and is remarkable for its narrative and meaning that cautions listeners about the difficulties of life, whether of an individual or society.
The EP starts off with o“Voices in the Dust”, which is a letter to an old friend. This track has accoustic guitar and soft beat, thus the music is warm and with welcoming feeling to it. The lyrics look at perseverance and humility, the song is similar to a tribute for people, who endure the hardships life throws at them. It is one of the most graceful messages about love and devotion to oneself and one’s cause.
What follows is “Runnin’ Down the River,” a song that is glorifying the sixties. A sassy banjo tune and a peppy clip transcended the boyhood dreams of childhood to the growing up and the sad fact that dreams vanish with times. Beautifully, it reflects on past ideals and yet, on the other, it’s a song about regret for decisions people have to make in their lives and therefore, it’s an extremely poignant song doubting his ability.
The EP ends with “That Could Have Been You”, a seven-minute opus that can fairly be described as a musical narrative. Young paints the picture very vividly urging his audience to take time to feel the pains of the less fortunate in society. The performance of the song is very tender but at the same time very strong, so people can remember kind and tolerant words.
The Ep “Three” is an immense appreciation and contemplation on the vagaries of life. Young has once again captivated audiences with his excellent narration and great musical accompaniment – it should not be missed by fans of folk and American Roots music.
