Where The TV Shows Are Made (In America) by BEN DALBY is an easy-listening folk experience about a rosy and romanticised version of the US. It also revolves around reminiscing on old relationships. It covers the excitement of being in these huge cities, full of infrastructure and creative opportunity, with a special emphasis on the magic of Hollywood.
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The wonder of the scale of the big city also is expressed in its anonymity by DALBY. There is an understanding that America is a fresh start for them where they can get lost in the noise and business. Instead of finding that crushing and impersonal, there is a joy in being able to traverse the country as a blank slate and show as much or as little to it as you like. This mixture of excitement for opportunity and the ability to feel anonymous gives the track a liminal energy that is unique. It reminds me a little thematically and sonically of Michael Cera’s song Clay Pigeons.
The sonic landscape is made up of layers of guitar strumming, underpinning the melody but also the rhythm. Alongside them, we get this hiss of the drums, subtly adding to the track’s sense of rhythm with rich thuds under the mix. The lead guitar ebbs and flows throughout the track’s composition, creating this beautiful counter melody and exploring new sonic angles within the song. The guitar also comes in as a call-and-response tool in certain sections, providing the song with bountiful energy and giving the vocals something to bounce off.
There are also vocal harmonies used in certain sections of the track. There is a clear vocal chemistry between the two that elevates the listening experience beyond the sum of its parts. The harmony expands and draws out the higher parts of the melody. They also convey a sense of unity in the sections of the song about relationships, tying the piece together sonically and thematically.
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