Lately (Acoustic)

So, I know that we briefly discussed ‘Lately’ in our Spotlight Artist piece on Chasing Abbey but the new acoustic version was released today and I feel it’s only fitting that I (Emma, not Niamh. She’s “on the floor” and very biased too, this we all know) have a look at the acoustic since I gave the original review. I promise I won’t go into detail overly much and keep this short and, of course, the link to the new acoustic version is at the bottom.

When I mention Chasing Abbey, some people might just think that they hit play on a backing track and sing along or just create music on a computer but this acoustic version highlights the true musical ability of Chasing Abbey. The piano arrangement gives this track a sense of simplicity, romance and beauty that the original lacked even if it was an earworm and, while the original is an earworm, the acoustic highlights the emotion of the lyrics and, depending on what you prefer (bopping or feels), your preferred version of the song will vary. There is God given talent in these musicians and the acoustic proves that even the most production based tracks on the planet can be stripped down to their bare bones and performed without pressing play on a laptop.  

I will say that the minimalist approach to production really allows the production that is actually present to really shine. The faded vocals before and during the last chorus really are beautiful and the layered vocals and harmonies throughout are really given the opportunity to shine through. Yes, the original was catchy but the acoustic version emphasises the vocals and the lyrics to get across the message of the song. The acoustic version of the song completely flips the tone of the song on its head as well which creates a more heartfelt rendition of a song that, after a few listens, emphasised the rhythm and beat of the track overall.

This version has fixed the one minor enunciation issue I picked up on after a few listens of the original. Initially, I said Teddy had stellar enunciation and I stand by that statement because I know how hard it is to fully enunciate words with an Offaly accent while singing (six years in choir with a teacher yelling “E-NUN-CI-ATE” at you, will do that). The one exception that caught my attention in the original version: “We don’t wantoo much lately” which, in the acoustic, becomes “want too much”. I know that may seem aggressively nit-picky but if I’m picking on tiny things like this it probably means I’ve very little else to complain about. Those crisp pronunciations and good diction really counter the flat Tullamore accent (don’t lie it’s there, I’ve heard it in other songs) and creates a really balanced, well rounded vocal performance with a little flair on “convos on the daily” to prove that the ability is there but doesn’t have to be used in every song. Sometimes simplicity is best. Another thing to note about the acoustic version is that there is no distraction from the lyrics, the entire emphasis of the song is on the lyrics and the emotion they convey.  

Overall, this version of Lately is not hip-hop or dance or any of the usual genres that Chasing Abbey is generally slotted into. This kind of music from Chasing Abbey is something I most certainly will not say no to more of but it also is very different to the genre of music they are known for. This acoustic version feels like it is a rare, but welcome, step away from their comfort zone and, personally, I feel like they need to strip back the layers on more of their tracks. It makes things just that little bit less predictable. In case you haven’t already guessed, I prefer the acoustic version and I think it is a nice change of style for Chasing Abbey and showcases their musical ability spectacularly.