Keaton Henson is possibly one of the luckier musicians to break into the industry. With an undeniable talent for the creative, his initial foray into music was more for personal pleasure than anything else. However, 13 years since his initial release, he has gathered a strong reputation as an artist who provides depth to his work, and his multi-talented catalogue of work has launched his name to a wider worldwide audience.

In a post-Covid world, many people have turned more to try and understand their mental health, who they are, and what life may mean on a bigger scale. I feel "I'm not there" is quite a subtle acknowledgement of someone who is struggling with who they are, trying to balance these feelings of helplessness and not be a burden to others. Lyrically, this is sparse in terms of the verse, but actually, that adds to the effect and drama of the music.

The feel of the music is reminiscent of a '90s indie track, with a vocal line quite far back in the mix but flowing over a lovely melody. Particularly in the chorus, where if the lyrics became too busy or the music too complicated, it would ruin the song. The blend of backing vocals and consistent instrumentation give this song an intrigue that lasts from beginning to end. The instrumentation is simple with guitars, bass, and drums, but each is playing quite intricate patterns that provide another layer of interest to this song. Overall, it is a song that boasts musicianship, composition, and production of very high quality.

Author: Phil Arnold

Phil Arnold is a musician, producer and music reviewer from Devon, in the South West of England. Whilst not writing music reviews, Phil also writes and records under the name of Ugbrooke.