Marc Rattue has released a new single, “Farewell to the Forest” and honestly, I’m struggling to find the right words for how much I enjoyed it. Part of his debut album, “To the Elven Shore”, it offers a lovely introduction to a songwriter whose music deserves a proper listen.
There is a gentle quality to this track, but it never feels simple. The acoustic instrumentation gives the arrangement its unique character and the warm melodies carry the song perfectly. He has one of the best voices we’ve heard this year and his delivery is smooth and easy to listen to. He doesn’t need to push his voice to get the emotion across, there’s a softness to his performance that suits the writing and lets the words land.
The lyrics are honest and beautifully written. Rattue draws inspiration from Tolkien which adds a special touch to his music. He describes moving from the ordinary towards the magical, and that idea sits well with the atmosphere he has created here. You don’t need to know the background to connect with the music, but it gives the song something extra to think about afterwards.
The production and mixing are professional. The instruments are well balanced, the vocals sit comfortably in the arrangement and the sound design is impressive and gives the song its unique identity without taking attention away from the songwriting. I loved listening to this song. Marc Rattue has a sound and a way with words I’d gladly spend more time with, and I’m really looking forward to hearing what he shares next.
