By: James Titford
With the release of his third album, things are “Lookin’ Up” for Adrian House.
Released August 13th, 2019, “Lookin’ Up” is a short, sweet collection of upbeat folk-rock/pop, offering 28 minutes of music made to leave the listener feeling good and looking on the brighter side of life.
The uplifting nature of “Lookin’ Up” was the goal for Adrian House when creating this project. House has stated how important it was to him to “make an album that was fun, and life-affirming,” and said he is “really happy with the results we achieved.”
"Lookin’ Up” delivers this with its variety of tracks which include a wide range of styles and musical flavours. While rooted in folk-rock and pop, the album is gleefully playful, opening with the pop-rock “Changes,” sounding like a stroll down the street on a sunny day, before moving into the country jam “Travelin' On,” which sounds like a full country jamboree coming out of your speakers. House even dabbles in chanson français with “Babbette,” an original French composition.
The album also has some slower, more nuanced songs to bring a balance, both musically and lyrically. These slow jams remain positive and uplifting, but also give room for some reflective, slightly sombre moments, like in “1951,” a look back on a past relationship, or “Mother (Ode To Nature),” a love letter to Mother Nature and reconnecting with nature as a whole.
House brings aboard a crew of notable musicians from the Newfoundland & Labrador music scene including Josh Ward and Mara Pellerin of Hey Rosetta!, Darren Browne, and Katie Baggs, who previously appeared on House’s 2013 album “Too Strong.” Fully brought to life with a wide array of instruments including flute, trumpet, organ, fiddle, and banjo, “Lookin’ Up” brings a rich tapestry of talent and textures to every track.
With his 2018 Eastern Canadian tour and the recording and release of his latest album complete, Adrian House is taking no break, with upcoming shows August 29 at the Ship Pub, September 20 at the Peter Easton Pub, and a November 2019 album tour in the works.
Having already debuted the album to a packed venue at The Ship Pub, it’s clear that if you want a fun, feel-good folk-rock/pop album, “Lookin’ Up” is what you’re looking for.
"Lookin’ Up” can be streamed and purchased digitally (https://adrianhouse.bandcamp.com/) and is available locally on CD at Fred’s Records, O’Brien’s Music, The Battery Café, and The Bees Knees. Follow on Adrian House on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/houseadrian) for news and updates.