Curtains Closed is James Percival’s Ep Out Now
Good Day Noir Family,
There’s a quiet intensity to Curtains Closed, the EP by James Percival, that reveals itself one thoughtful note at a time.
Curtains Closed is James Percival’s Ep Out Now
The opening piano line of the title track sets a delicate tone, immediately introducing us to an artist who values subtlety and refinement.
Percival’s vocals glide over the arrangement with a kind of soft force—gentle, yet firm in their emotional weight. It’s the kind of performance that invites introspection, underscored by ethereal background harmonies that seem to lift the track into brighter emotional territory, even when the lyrics lean toward melancholy.
“Insane” changes the tempo and mood considerably. Where the opener was graceful, this one punches harder. The bassline bounces with nervous energy, dancing tightly with the drums, while guitar riffs inject a sense of instability. There’s a slight hint of alternative rock drama here, with moments that recall the grandeur of bands like Muse without mimicking them outright.
“Too Good to Be True” is foggier, more elusive in structure. The mysterious tone and floating vocals evoke the feeling of being lost in thought, or even lost in space. There’s tension here, a sense of being suspended between certainty and doubt, and the minimal use of instrumentation only amplifies that feeling.
“Disembodied” stands out with its rhythmic experimentation and rich chord progressions that feel as if they’re pulling the listener through different emotional landscapes.
Then there’s “What Am I Supposed to Feel?”, which enters with a moody saxophone that evokes the image of a quiet, rain-slicked New York street at night. The noir atmosphere here is undeniable. It’s cinematic, haunting, and beautifully restrained.
“So Many Times” closes the EP with a surprise: a subtle jazz influence brought on by the use of double bass and a bare-bones arrangement that proves minimalism can be just as impactful as grandeur. It’s a thoughtful ending to a release that constantly shifts gears without ever feeling disjointed.
Curtains Closed is James Percival’s Ep Out Now!
Elegant!
James Percival is an emerging artist from Birmingham. Blending indie pop, alternative rock, and soft jazz, James crafts a sound that’s emotionally resonant and sonically rich. Influenced by artists like Lewis Capaldi, Fontaines D.C., and Tigran Hamasyan, his music explores themes of grief, distance, and healing. Curtains Closed is a deeply personal project, inspired by his experience coping with his sister’s battle with Long-Covid. Through this moving collection of songs, James opens a heartfelt dialogue on loss and resilience.
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