Chordblossom
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
Chordblossom
No Result
View All Result

Conor Mason – On The Surface

Nicole Leggett by Nicole Leggett
February 10, 2019
in Music Reviews
Conor Mason Photo

Conor Mason’s On the Surface has been my commuter companion for the past few days, and in a blatant selfish way I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve definitely prolonged this review for just another listen through in my own little early morning train bubble.

The Derry native has created an album that is an epitome of easy listening and relaxation, with the tracks melting with ease into the next, forming a cocoon of softness that’s lined with gentle chords and the perfect touch of strings to intertwine it all as one. This is combined with a haunting vocal that takes you on a progressive journey that’s tinged with a suspenseful sadness. The album’s opening track ‘Falls to Ground’ progresses in this exact fashion, slowly building and taking you along before crashing down into a flurry of harsh piano chords. ‘Follow’ also flows in a similar fashion, focusing again on progressing chord qualities that also builds nicely around a hint of drums and harmonies.

‘Passing Colours’ is heartbreakingly emotional, destined to form the backdrop of a break up scene with tears in the rain, raised voices or slammed doors. It pulls you along and you’re left clinging onto every word to see where the song is going to take you. And that’s even before the strings kick in. It’s simply beautiful, and although it’s dripping with heartache, when finished you’ll be hitting that replay button just to have a glimpse into that world all over again.

Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025 Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025 Chordblossom Presents: Gifted - David C Clements | Our Krypton Son | Aine Gordon - Live at the Belfast Empire - 11 September 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

‘We Watched the Sky Rotate’ opens with such an entrancing piano instrumental, that drips like icicles melting down a cave before joining Mason’s soft vocal. It builds a world that’s shrouded in fragility but yet also surrounded by a sense of wonder, before the song closes out to crashing drums colliding with the smooth twinkle of piano keys.

Hushed harmonies and chord loops form the backdrop of ‘Crown of Weakness and ‘Lost in the Noise’, whereas ‘On the Surface’ changes it up with some repetitive electro-synth loops.

‘Blood Red Moon’ also features a soft piano ballad, accompanied with velvety strings and hidden smooth guitars, while ‘Let It Bloom’ focuses more on flowing harmonies encased within a repetitive chord sequence. ‘The Time in Between’ finishes out the album with Mason’s distinctive vocal surrounded by the now familiar piano progression and alluring strings that fade to close out this dizzying world of serene and anguish colliding as one.

Before you even realise it this album will take you drifting away, swooped up into Mason’s world of whispers and warmth, cloaked with a stark lyrical melancholy which is so contradistinctive and yet it works so well here.

Leave a Comment ⁞

Tags: Conor MasonNicole LeggettOn the SurfacePØRTS
ShareTweetShareShareSendSend
Previous Post

Evening Showcases Announced For Output 2019

Next Post

Rosborough – Paper Boats

Related Posts

Stendhal Festival 2024 Header Image
News

Stendhal 2024 Preview With Stage Times

July 2, 2024
Chalk
Features

Fresh Music from Northern Ireland – March

April 3, 2023

Recent Posts

Gifted David C Clements Our Krypton Son Aine Gordon Header Image

Chordblossom Presents: GIFTED with David C Clements, Our Krypton Son & Áine Gordon

June 9, 2025
No Fixed Abode

No Fixed Abode: 23

June 9, 2025
Best of Irish – May

Best of Irish – May

June 4, 2025

Twitter

Instagram

Follow

    The Instagram Access Token is expired, Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to to refresh it.

Spotify Playlist

Fresh Music From Northern Ireland

Mailing List

  • About Chordblossom
  • Kickstart
  • Music Reviews
  • Live Reviews
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Photos
  • Fresh Music From Northern Ireland Playlist
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • Mailing List

© 2020 Chordblossom

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles
    • Festivals
    • Fresh NI Music
    • Interviews
    • Introducing
    • Win
  • Media
    • Playlists
    • Photosets
    • Podcast
    • Sessions
    • Transmission
    • TV
  • Kickstart
  • Chordblossom Gigs
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Mailing List
    • Vacancies

© 2020 Chordblossom

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT