Hello Human - Apollo LTD
Hello Human
Apollo LTD
Label: Centricity Music
Length: 13 songs/44 minutes
On Hello Human Apollo LTD open their moonshot with the rousing “Breakthrough.” This testimony song is a preview of all that follows: pop-rock, lyrics that find “beauty in the broken,” a sound that is easy to like, coupled with life-affirming lyrics.
A psychedelic swirl of sounds in the background opens “Future’s Calling.” A booming bass and drums occupy the forefront before being joined by a massive guitar riff. It’s an exhilarating setting for the longing in the first stanza:
Is anyone out there
Is anyone listening
Is there any path to understand
Or is it just a mystery
The album’s title comes from the verses that immediate follow the chorus:
Hello human
Hello suffering
It’s hard to reconcile what is
And the way it was meant to be
The song points beyond ourselves:
Call it the answer
Call it our Savior
Or call it a remedy
The highly accessible rhythm and the simple but dynamic guitar chops make it a standout.
Jordan Phillips and Adam Stark, who comprise Apollo LTD, toughen their sound on “Hooked,” which has a decidedly rock edge. It had me thinking David Bowie’s “Fame.” The grit makes it a musical highlight.
What stands out on this release is the relatable songwriting:
So you made some wrong turns
Lessons had to get learned
I’m not gonna throw no stones
We’re prodigals and long shots
Children of a good God
And we don’t have to walk alone
“A Day in the Life” brings a needed reminder:
Sometimes you’re up, up, up
Then you’re down, down, down (everybody’s got their good days, bad days)
When you’re riding high
Then you’re on the ground (wish we didn’t have to learn the hard way)
The production is excellent: expansive yet intricate and layered with plenty of energy.
I’ve always appreciated the line in “Spark” by Over the Rhine: “Was John the only dreamer?” Apparently not! This is a reference to “Imagine” by John Lennon. Apollos LTD takes it a step further on “Who We Are”:
I’ll tell you it’s not a dream
It can be our reality
Could kindness and patience be the song of the nations and hymn for us all
“Think globally, act locally” may be cliché but it’s an encouragement to become the change we seek. Who knows what will come from a spark? Apollos LTD use their considerable powers of persuasion to cheer on those who listen.
Michael Dalton
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