Way Dynamic - Massive Shoe Review

Through the contrast of tender and reflective lyrics with upbeat and playful instrumentation, Massive Shoe subtly explores the turbulent nature of human relationships and teaches us there can be joy found in sadness. 

Released in August last year via Melbourne-based label Spoilsport, Massive Shoe is the third album by Australian artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Way Dynamic, spearheaded by Dylan Young. It’s a timeless album bringing back the sonics of 60s folk-pop, while lyrically exploring the pursuit of human connection and embracing all the triumphs and trials that comes with it. 

The comparison to some of the greats from the 60s - including Nick Drake, The Beatles, The Beach Boys - is not to say that the album is derivative or out-dated. Instead, Young’s music is a refreshing take on folk-pop and the record feels completely modern, probably partly because it fits in the current folk-pop music revival scene - sitting among albums from artists like Dove Ellis and Cameron Winter - as well as Young’s undeniable talent as a producer and multi-instrumentalist. 

Massive Shoe is a record exploring human missteps in the pursuit for connection. A standout for me is the way Young treats his lyricism and instrumentation, notably his subtle way of  contrasting his songwriting - which is more often than not reflective and poignant - with upbeat and playful production. It becomes apparent in various moments throughout the album, most notably in the popular track ‘Miffed It’.The song opens with a fun snaredrum pattern before a catchy guitar ostinato joins, as well as gently strummed acoustic guitar chords and the occasional harmonium. The instrumentation is upbeat but still has a certain lightness to it, allowing Young’s soft vocals to instantly capture our attention. It’s a good thing too, as these lyrics are probably some of the most tender on the record, albeit simple and direct: ‘’We drifted, so far away, I cannot say’’, ‘’I miss you, rather that would leave my brain’’, ‘’I tricked you, things’ won’t ever be the same again’’.The chorus ends with the phrase: ‘’I start to see the end, goodbye, friend’’.

While lyrically Young grieves a failed relationship, his delivery remains sweet and airy, singing his phrases in a repeated short rhyming scheme, contributing to the overall playfulness of the track. There are some other songs where this contrast is explored further: ‘In Review’is a simple yet beautiful concept for a song, with lyrics such as: “no one can touch us, even with the truth. I wanna see what life could’ve been, in review.”With a strong bass line, a steady beat, and Young exploring his higher vocal range, it’s a laidback track to which you can’t help but sway along, while the artist dreams of how a seemingly failed relationship could have played out if things had been different.

‘Evening Star’ is another one too, with the singer advocating: “feel the pain of the ones who walk away after dark”, and “let the rain into your heart [...] let it fall apart.”These lyrics areaccompanied by a bass groove and syncopated synth chords, and the upbeat-downbeat contrast seems to be Young's way of telling us that where there is sorrow, there is always a brighter way of looking at it.

There are moments, though, where this playful approach to instrumentation seeps into Young’s lyricism. Even in ‘Evening Star’, after hitting us with the simplelyric “let it fall apart”, Young comes a couple of lines later with the orders “maximise your wealth”, “keep a journal”, and “analyse your sleep”.There’s a silliness to these phrases; as if we’re being reminded to not take ourselves too seriously. “My Visit (To Hell)” is another example of an artist having fun with his songwriting, telling us he has a “dog by my side” and “if the angels ask he’s only just here for the ride”.The lyrical directness adds to the wit, as well as The Beach Boys style instrumentation and vocal arrangement, with tight backing harmonies.

Taking a step back and listening to the album as a whole, Massive Shoe explores the start of a relationship through to the very end. The album opens with ‘People Settle Down’,a lyrically and instrumentally upbeat track of moving in with a partner and being excited for all that is to come. As he sings “I’ve seen it in movies” and “read it in books”, you can’t help but smile at this wholesome idea of love being this dramatic and rare thing. ‘I Was the Dancer’ is next, exploring how to navigate building this new relationship while maintaining one’s own life, as Young asks “can we walk and talk as well?” and “settle scores in parallel?” As the album continues the initial excitable approach to love found in the opening track’s lyrics gradually becomes more sorrowful, reminiscent of the themes in Pet Sounds.

Young’s aptitude for subtly adding playfulness and lightness into his lyrics and instrumentation is what makes Massive Shoe so great. Through a mix of the tender and witty, everyone can find comfort in this record.