Cherry Chapstick Acoustic Review

CHRIS QUESNEL’s Cherry Chapstick Acoustic brings an entirely different energy to the original. This new acoustic rendition peels the layers back, allowing the melodic beauty at the song’s core to shine through even stronger than ever. The ability to use absence as a tool within music is a sophisticated edge some seasoned composers can utilise. It is used to tremendous effect in Cherry Chapstick.

Sponsored

The moments of liminal clarity bring attention to the narrative and allow the listener to reflect on what it means to them. This acoustic version is a far more introspective take on the theme, allowing a more personal connection between listener and artist. With fewer melodic elements, each aspect has to be perfect as there is nowhere to hide in the noise. QUESNEL’s performance on the guitar is a spectacle. It feels as though the guitar is exploring the emotional landscape of the narrative as much as the vocals are. There is something ineffable conveyed through the subtle trills and melodic runs. The guitar also has to act as the rhythmic backbone in an acoustic piece such as this. The guitar effortlessly sustains the rhythm and melody in sections, allowing the vocals to break away from the structure of the track and lead the listener. The guitar emphasises the vocals and vice versa. Every part of the track benefits from the juxtaposition of every other part. This creates a bold and coherent sound that conveys a clarity of vision. The vocals feel emotionally connected. Beyond delivering the lyrics, the intonations of the voice convey emotion. This, to me, suggests that the vocalist understands on a deep and meaningful level what the lyrics mean. This immerses you in the moment. This track intelligently strips back the compositional layers and expectations with an acoustic remix that captures emotion and energy from beginning to end.