Terry’s Sophomore Effort Blends Variety of Styles to Create Pleasing ‘Feral Folk’ Album

By Julie Brett

J.S. Terry released his sophomore album “And You Loom Over Me Like a Mountain” on April 26. A follow-up to 2017’s “Rose,” the album contains elements of spoken word, instrumental, and traditional vocals to create an exceptional sound that will draw you in and keep you wanting more.

The Campobello, South Carolina, native’s music has been described as “feral folk,” a nod to his upbringing in remote Campobello, where he spent a great deal of time outdoors. At times hard to describe, the genre is self-made and was fine-tuned over the years into a collaboration with members of a Clemson, South Carolina, music collective called the Pablo Generation.

The album touches on songs about love, flowers, and nature, to name a few. Starting off the album is soft-spoken word with the sounds of birds chirping in the background to set the stage for the soft violin to take you to in to “The Unmistakable Sound of a Heart Beating in Love.” The song continues with an ethereal mix of violin, banjo, and guitar while Terry’s voice progressively eases into the song with a softness welcomed by an increasing tempo of banjo and quickening violin.

Keeping with the tone of the captivating introduction, “Flowers on the Hillside” begins with an angelic rendition of Terry’s voice combined with the sounds of birds and soft instrumentals that gradually build to a delicate combination of soulful whispers and violin that speak of love and light.

Closing the album is “We Run Loose Amongst the Tree, the Sun Rises.” Airing a sense of freedom and release, lyrics such as “We run, we run, from the early morning/We run we run, from all the things that haunt us” inspire confronting fears and letting go of doubts. It’s the ideal ending to an album inspired by love, loss, and searing emotion.

Terry’s release is a breathtaking work of art that proves his ability to see through complicated emotions and cultivate them into a genuine work of honesty and vulnerability. Like other artists from the Pablo Generation, Terry’s work in this release is raw, yet polished, and proves just how genuine he is as an artist and a musician.

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jsterry/albums
J.S. Terry’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jsterrymusic/
“And You Loom Over Me Like a Mountain” release party: https://www.facebook.com/events/835403660144302/