Shayfer James – Summoning

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The latest album from Shayfer James, called Summoning, is a sonic wall-of-sound that showcases this talented singer-songwriter’s wit, charm, and crisp songwriting. Shayfer shares on the creation of Summoning, “I decided to sequester myself away on the frozen oceanside of New Brunswick, Canada, because I knew I had a new album in me. I didn’t know what it would sound like or what it would be about, but I knew it was in there and that I wanted to be alone and somewhere beautifully cold when I wrote it. The four weeks I spent writing Summoning were lush with gorgeous sunrises, flocking crows, and self-acceptance. It felt like a spell. A summoning of self. I felt tapped into the ether, and there’s really no better word to describe my time on Cape Tormentine other than ‘magic.'” You can tell that Shayfer James put his whole self into this record that invites the listener in closer to his world, if you’re brave enough to step into the dimly lit hallways of Summoning.

The record blasts off with the bombastic piano strokes found on “Imagine That,” as Shayfer carefully croons over his backing band with ease. “One Foot In The Grave” bounces along with a cool groove, and reminded me a bit of a band lost to time called Crash Kings, with equally-pleasing results. Shayfer sounds as cool as ever on the smooth second verse of, “You make a living on a long shot / You put your future in the pawn shop / A night fever and a cold sweat / Over an error you haven’t even made yet, right, right, right, right / The high road was made for the brave / And it’s painfully long, long, long / And you’re doing your best to go on.” Shayfer’s ability to set the scene in his transcendent musical approach is a rare gift.

”The Moral” is a haunting track that again leverages the piano as the key instrument for Shayfer to compose his thoughts over. The key verse of, “This is a summoning / This is a prayer / I think I’m worth loving / For the kind of heathen / Who would dare / I’m bad when I wanna be / But I’m true to my word / So let’s make some history,” sets the tone for the rest of the record. “Make A Wish” gets back to the cool bounce groove found on “One Foot In the Grave” and features some cabaret elements like finger-snaps, hand claps, and some eerie-sounding organs to add to the mix. The rich context of the ballad called “Headed Home” is pure singer-songwriter magic, and Shayfer James does it just about as good as anyone in the music business.

The second half of Summoning never loses its early momentum gained, with the key single “Lighthouse Keeper” re-setting the key tone of the record. The song ended up being my favorite in the set, and would be a great playlist add for fans of Sarah and the Safe Word, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, and Panic! At The Disco fans. The well-placed accordion sounds throughout the chorus allows for Shayfer to gather the masses around his “story to tell.”

”Yellow House” starts off with the pointed lyrics of “There’s monster under every bed / And a wooden spoon for every lie / Though an honest word is seldom said / In a big yellow house / On a mountainside,” and further highlights Shayfer’s ability to set the scene through his picturesque lyrics. “Hell Of A Dream” begins with a quirky riff, while Shayfer gradually adds in drums, organs, and other key instruments to back up his musical approach. While “Reverie” rocks along with masterful purpose, and plays out in a steady time signature as Shayfer explains on the pre-chorus, “Take your time, miss me less / While I make another mess / I was a fool / I will be waiting.” The album closer of “Winter Hymn” is a haunting reminder of the brutal thoughts that come during the relentless season as he explains, “The winter wind is rattling my bones / I’m re-imagining / The meaning / Of a kiss / And skipping stones.”

There’s so much depth that Shayfer James goes into on Summoning that it comes without surprise that this LP rewards the listener on subsequent spins of the record. There are little intricate details to be found everywhere on this album that has great lyrics, unique song structures, and improved songwriting. One can only hope that this particular summoning gathers more fans into Shayfer James’ ever-growing flock.

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