Fore Fader Strip Back the Mask on Ethereal and Bold Debut Album Great Pretender
Where do I even begin when it comes to the magical music of Los Angeles-based duo Fore Fader? The sonic collaboration between Stephanie Carlin and Carey Clayton is one I’ve been captivated by for years, and, after teasing their brilliance with many singles, their debut album has finally arrived!
Titled Great Pretender, Fore Fader's ten-track offering is an ethereal, at times almost spiritual, collection of tunes. A meditation on self-deception, surrender, and faith, Stephanie and Carey mention that it's a record about "the masks we wear - and the brutal sacred work of removing them."
Let The Light in begins proceedings with fragility and intrigue. It sucks the listener in straight away, and sets the scene perfectly for All I Ever, a song I recently labelled a "dreamy, expansive, and utterly mesmerising piece of music." Well, I couldn't agree with myself more!
Firestarter then steps up to the plate, and it's another Fore Fader tune that I just love. Highly experimental and filled with lush harmonies, it showcases another side to the duo's sound.
The album's title track comes into play next, and it's a spacious and deeply absorbing song. Penned during a time when a loved one was in the operating room, it's a masterclass in emotional resonance.
With six more treasures ahead, all that’s left is to let yourself be carried away by Fore Fader’s debut magic.
