Listen Up: Bill Bartholomew ‘Beachcomber’

There is something in Bill Bartholomew‘s voice that just makes me smile. Even if you don’t know the songwriter, you can hear the love he infuses into his music when he sings. You know this is what he is meant to be doing and what he is most happiest being in the middle of.

“Beachcomber” is the lead off track from his most recent release “Late Night Stars, Sunrise Rainbow” and is my favorite of the 8 tracks on the collection. There is a sweeping and dreamscape type sway to his music. Waves washing up on a shore early in the morning when all else is still and orange and red hues cast their glow on the sands below your feet, still cold from the night air. The track is driven by an acoustic guitar and solid rhythm section, but its Bartholomew’s voice that is the glue holding it together. A mix of country, folk, punk and alternative music should come across as a hodge podge of noise, but its really, really upbeat and nice on the ears. Its soft but an edge is buried deep within his sailing vocal. I don’t know, I just plain feel good listening to Bill’s songs on this collection, as his voice floats up and down, high into that “sun -shiiiiiiiiine” annunciation on the chorus. There is a lot of heart in how he plays and sings. Its good stuff.

Hey orange, there is a sign 
Its spinning choices with time 
And sitting by the waterside 
Waiting to be seen

Give a listen today and check out the rest of the record.