Cam Maclean’s enigmatic, dusky pop single “Visions” on the surface level sounds like a modern equivalent of yacht rock song but with the chill vibes and perpetually on vacation energy cut out completely. It’s more like the kind of song that would be perfect for a noir drama directed by Sofia Coppola but written by Ed Brubaker. There is an existential undercurrent to the song that comes from a place of deep introspection and when Maclean sings of how “there is no darkness that can purify his soul” it just makes sense from the perspective of darkness as a metaphor for the unknown and that in too many realms of life it’s not there on the edge of town or in neglected corners of downtown areas in a compelling way. And the song sounds like a melancholic reflection on how things have changed and how it changes people and the places they live and how what was special about so many cities is being bleached out by corporate developers and the like buying up so many “undervalued” property and draining the personality out of every place many people might like to live and make their own in a social ecosystem that isn’t comprised of moneyed monoculture and the businesses and public works that seem to cater to that. Who can say if Maclean had this perhaps heavy handed socio-political, analytic projection but this moody song, a touch of accordion adding a nice glimmer of nostalgia, certainly captures a time in life when you’re assessing what it’s all about and where you are in life and how you took for granted simple and familiar comforts as it’s fading away. Listen to “Visions” on YouTube and connect with Maclean at the links provided.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
You must be logged in to post a comment.