‘Drink The First Light’ is the new standalone single from Adam Ross and features fellow Scot C Duncan who got involved as a mixing engineer and ending up adding some extra instrumentation and vocal harmonies. Ross says, “It started out as an experimental home recording. “As it developed, I felt it had the potential to be a fun, catchy pop single. It’s a bit of a departure for me, as I usually tend to write quite narrative-led, wordy songs whereas this one is more lyrically abstract and driven by the melody and the production.“
The song is an antonym to the change into autumn and Ross says, “As we slide into darker and colder autumnal days, I’m increasingly aware of how important sunshine is to me. The song is sort of written from the perspective of an inverse-vampire: someone with an insatiable craving for sunlight. The wider theme is one of optimism and seizing the day.“
The song has the tight fizz of subbass pulsing in and out and driving everything in tandem with the fuzzed guitar riff that dances around Adam Ross’s swooning vocals. The backing is the crucible that allows the voices to create gold, with the glorious harmonies bringing magic-hour warmth to everything. Like an auditory Stockholm Syndrome, by the time I had heard the repeated chorus of “We’ll drink the first light of the morning sun” multiple times in this three-and-a-half-minute slice of perfect pop, I was reaching for the repeat button and wanted to shout “Again! Again!” like a child does when it’s just been thrown in the air by an adult. ‘Drink the First Light’ will slake the thirst of any musically parched pop fan.
I would also recommend the YouTube video of Adam Ross talking about making his first solo album Staring at Mountains (2022) with some gorgeous performances inside the Todhead Lighthouse where it was recorded.
Released through Fika Recordings
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Review by Paul F Cook
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