“Early Man” is the latest release by Maybe Human, an outstanding music outlet based in Los Angeles, California. It’s the first piece of work this year, arriving after “Remains In Space,” “Ape Law,” and “Life On Mars,” three exceptional full-length albums released from 2021 to 2024 that you should also check out as soon as possible. Known for blending music with profound message, Maybe Human once again uses a scientific approach in his lyrics. By teaming up with writer John Elkin, Maybe Human infuses anthropology into his music, exploring the depths of humanity with profoundly detailed, meaningful storytelling lyricism. Sonically, Maybe Human combines many different but complementary music genres to depict such luxuriant sonic imagery. Perhaps art rock comes to mind first, but you’ll unquestionably notice how the artist incorporated some of the finest properties borrowed from post-rock, ambient rock, psychedelic rock, and progressive rock. You’ll even hear how some electronic and avant-garde music elements found their way into this sonic equation, and they suit this material beautifully. “Early Man” unquestionably explores modern music territories. Each composition arrives with qualities that meet all the trends of contemporary music production. However, you’ll also hear a subtle touch of nostalgia lurking around. Therefore, these experimentations with many different but complementary styles and approaches resulted in a collection of catchy, memorable, engaging compositions that will immediately resonate not only with art rock fans but anyone who appreciates cleverly assembled and flawlessly performed music.
As soon as you press play, you’ll notice that Maybe Human paid attention to everything while writing, composing, arranging, recording, and producing this material. Each vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuver has its place and purpose, making “Early Man” such an incredible EP worth spinning over and over again. With the initial notes and beats of “The Land He Knows,” an introducing piece that immediately prepares the listener for the remainder of the material, you’ll notice how Maybe Human’s dedication to the craft shines in the limelight. The storytelling lyricism is the centerpiece, delivering the story through narration instead of regular singing techniques. Throughout the entire material, Maybe Human focuses on the spoken word yet these vocal maneuvers entirely appeal to the soundscapes without spoiling anything. Quite the contrary, the narration suits each sonic and rhythmic acrobatic expertly and smoothly, emphasizing everything to new heights. Unlike regular spoken work, Maybe Human’s approach is more soulful, passionate, sincere, confident, emotional, and profound, delivering each line with precision and finesse. In the meantime, the interplay between guitars shapes a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. These sonic maneuvers are vividly hearable throughout the entire album and each composition delivers a comprehensive collection of themes, melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, riffs, and accentuations that immensely support narration. Tracks like “The Land He Knows,” “Crushing And Grinding,” “Aurochs Bull,” and “The Old Man,” resonate with some of the finest guitar works you’ll hear in a while compositions like “Smilodon Fatalis” and “The Stars” take more ambient and electronic music route. Of course, the entire EP resonates with many cinematic ambient moments thanks to generous servings of reverb, echo, and delay effect, significant decorations that not only uplift guitars but electronic elements as well. Also, it’s nearly mindblowing how vocals and guitars articulate harmoniously, making “Early Man” even more pleasant to the ears.
Speaking about electronic elements, this material is packed with so many beautiful synth and electronic maneuvers, enhancing, accentuating, and decorating every segment of every song. Weather arriving like buildups, atmospheric soundscapes, melodies, accentuations, and just tiny details and nuances, every layer plays a significant role in this fine piece of sonic artistry. The way these synth and electronic elements help out guitars goes beyond comprehension so many times throughout the entire EP. Maybe Human’s showcases his tremendous dedication to the craft through every detail invested in this material and that’s the case with these electronic and synth elements as well. Beneath all these guitars, synths, and electronic maneuvers, equally impressive, flawlessly performed, warm-sounding basslines rumble, offering more heaviness, clarity, and depth while serving like a glue that binds all those orchestrations with rhythmic patterns. These low ends are luxuriant, deep, dense, and heavy, contributing more power and complexity to already intricate song structures. “Early Man” wouldn’t sound this good without incredible rhythmic sequences built upon marvelously arranged, expertly programmed, well-accentuated, moderate beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. You’ll notice how every hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, and splash over the cymbals cuts through reverby ambiance and offer another layer of detail over these complex songs. Maybe Humant thought about everything while writing and composing these six tracks, and his effort is more than vividly hearable in vocal, sonic, and rhythmic delivery. Everything he incorporated into this EP makes perfect sense and is worth flawlessly for the aesthetics of the material. Besides unleashing six majestic compositions, Maybe Human demonstrates all his experience, knowledge, skills, and talent. He poured heart and soul into “Early Man,” resulting in an amalgam of impressive, fascinating, beautiful, otherwordly compositions that will immediately resonate with the broader auditorium. It’s a masterpiece you surely don’t want to miss. Therefore, head to your favorite streaming platform and listen to it now!
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