Ruut – Gravity

Let’s be real for a second: there are many outstanding music releases out there, but only a few records make a real impact on listeners. It takes a lot of creativity, talent, and experience to write, compose, arrange, and produce music that engages all the senses and offers comfort in the most difficult times. A set of songs that will always be there for you when you go through thick and thin, have to retreat to your safe place, solve life’s problems, and find joy in those simple yet comforting routines. Ruut is one of those artists capable of crafting songs where every vocal, sonic, and rhyhtmic maneuver heals. Songs where every melody, harmony, hum, and beat has its profound meaning and arrives as a colossal slab of captivating sound that forces you to contemplate. With “Gravity,” her latest full-length album released on September 25th, she presents ten marvelous compositions that will help you out in the darkest times. She kept these songs from the public for more than fifteen years, using them as quiet companions and private prayers in times when she tested her resolve and commitment to making music. You’ll notice how soulful, passionate, emotional, and honest these compositions are, as they arrive as meaningful, poetic, storytelling confessions, beautifully narrated by a brilliant songwriter. Ruut tackles various sentiments, moods, situations, and circumstances, exploring hardships of life, love, relationships, and other similar themes that a broader audience will find highly relatable. Sonically, Ruut shapes highly luxuriant, powerful, ethereal, otherworldly, fascinating soundscapes where each layer and rhythmic pattern has its place and purpose in building narrative. She builds structures where her meaningful, poetic, storytelling lyricism shines in the limelight, while comforting the listeners. Perhaps indie pop comes to mind, as she incorporated all the fundamental elements of this longstanding genre in each segment of every song, but her music is so complex and expansive, and you’ll certainly notice how other subgenres of pop lurk around. Alt-pop, contemporary pop, sophistipop, and cinematic pop also found their place here, as they serve as enhancements and decorations that unquestionably accentuate particular moments or the entire structures. The entire material is packed with many beautiful moments, so it will instantly become your favorite indie pop album of the year.

Ruut is a master at crafting calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly compositions that immediately transport you into a completely different universe. As soon as you press play, you’ll notice how her incredible vocal performance tucks you into the passenger seat and prepares you for an epic journey through the expansive sonic universe. The introductory piece gradually prepares you with its calming, cinematic ambient tones, while Ruut’s voice arrives as another layer of choirs and melodies that perfectly elevates this overture to new heights. But the real voyage begins with the “Glimpse,” a song that defines the sonic direction and showcases what you might expect from the remainder of the material. Ruut’s whispery yet very dynamic vocal performance navigates complex emotions by perfectly balancing low, mid, and high notes, while the layers of themes, melodies, and harmonies delivered on synths pair with lush chord progressions, intricate basslines, and half-time rhythmic patterns. With “Waiting” and “Gravity,” she further dives into an expansive indie pop ballad world, but with more fascinating orchestrations incorporated in each segment. Those synth works may seem calm, yet they’re very intricate, shaping a soundscape where Ruut’s convincing, emotional, highly dynamic vocal performance reigns supreme. It’s nearly mind-blowing how all those layers articulate without overwhelming each other. You’ll notice plucked, palm-muted violin themes lurking around, subtle guitars, and detailed beats resonating in “Waiting,” while “Gravity” offers more modern, sequenced synth basslines and themes, jangly chord progressions, and more groovy drums. “Gravity” also leans more on a positive, cheerful, late-90s or early 00s pop vibe, demonstrating Ruut’s range. The artist brings soul and gospel into the indie pop world with “Shine,” a composition entirely packed with rhodes, keys, marvelous basslines, and commanding, well-accentuated rhythmic patterns. You’ll hear how Ruut’s impressive vocal range absolutely shines during the chorus, bringing more emotion and power to the song, while the vocal harmonies give that anthemic, gospel quality. Ruut further proves her tremendous creativity, experience, and range with “Unbeatable,” a modern pop composition that has that subtle yet vividly hearable rhythm and blues quality. Once again, her fascinating voice guides you on a captivating journey through cleverly, wisely, tastefully crafted segments and moments, fully packed with brilliant orchestrations. It’s one of those songs that, once you play it, gets into your ears and refuses to let go long after the last notes and beats fade away.

There’s something about stripped-down pop ballads that makes them so beautiful, hypnotic, addictive, and memorable, and Ruut demonstrates their power through “Church Bells,” a composition where her marvelous vocal performance, beautiful keyboard maneuvers, and incredible string section keep you tied to your seat. “The Storm” carries similar qualities, but it brings even more details and instrumentation to the table. Besides Ruut’s vocal performance, you’ll hear powerful choirs lurking around,  groovy basslines providing more warmth, depth, clarity, and melody, string instrumentation offering that sweet, lush, comforting ambiance, various swirls and pads roaming around and spicing things up, and half-time beats providing a calm pace and detail. “All I’ll Ever Need” gradually signifies the ending of this incredible album by sailing the same waters as the previous two compositions, but Ruut once again upgrades her sonic vocabulary with more luxuriant orchestrations, making this song so mesmerizing, meaningful, and impactful. This epic sonic journey comes to an end with “Always (Epilogue),” a modern indie pop composition empowered with drum and bass rhythmic patterns, marvelous choirs, and ambient soundscapes. It’s such a perfect closure that it convinces you to spin this gem all over again. Words are not enough to describe how beautiful “Gravity” is. Ruut poured heart and soul into this material, kept these compositions from the public for so many years, and now they’re here for all true indie pop fans to enjoy them in all their glory. “Gravity” is not only a top contender for an indie pop album of the year, but a true masterpiece crafted by one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our time. You can hear all her talent, skills, creativity, experience, knowledge, ideas, and musicianship in these songs, and you’ll gladly revisit this material every time you crave some luxuriant, intelligent, complex indie pop music. If you love your indie pop as calm, soothing, otherworldly, captivating, and emotive, you should place Ruut’s “Gravity” on your music radar. Do not miss this modern indie pop gem.