Up and Comers Music

It’s not a sense of urgency that carries the music forward in the recent single “Through the Heat of the Morning” from Scottish Americana artist After Reno. In fact, a single guitar strums the track’s foundational chords in such a carefree, unhurried manner that it feels as if the song could crumble apart at any moment. The song’s slow pace is no detractor though; in fact, it is precisely this relaxed disposition that makes the track compelling. 

From the opening notes, After Reno have us feeling like we’re ambling through the heat of a summer day. Amidst the song’s relaxed pace, baritone vocals tenderly take us through an uncomplicated, ear-pleasing melody. Occasional reaches for higher notes grab our attention but never jolt us out of the easy-going vibe that is so essential here. Verses and choruses blend together in the way a warm summer morning might slowly turn into a blisteringly hot and sweaty afternoon without a warning.

In a minimalist song like this, small changes are highly noticeable. This is especially true when the harmonica makes a glorious debut at around 2 minutes in. As the vocals temporarily recede, the harmonica takes center stage and provides a tonal change that really feels right for this kind of Americana tune. After taking us through another verse, the band introduce another subtle change as they slowly unwind the music through the outro. This time, multiple layers of “oohs” and “you could save this life again” meld with harmonica as we glide through the final minute of the track. It feels like a momentary elevation of the energy, but it doesn’t last long as the band slowly unravel things back to the sauntering, summery flow for the final notes. 

After Reno have really achieved an unimpeachably pure sound here with just two instruments, vocals, and no drums. Like a poet conjuring a scene with just a few words or a painter evoking a feeling out of a handful of brushstrokes, the band have embraced doing more with less in “Through the Heat of the Morning”. 

Stream the track here and follow After Reno on Instagram to stay up to date. 

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