Montell Fish Eases Listeners Into a Hypnotic Trance in "Irrational"
Photo: Brandon J Minton
Bedroom-R&B visionary, Montell Fish has granted listeners one last morsel before his upcoming EP, Intercession Before Charlotte, and it’s an enticing bite of what’s to come.
The final single, “Irrational,” is built up around a centric synth groove, with rhythmic chords persisting throughout the entire song. Though they’re not in an irregular time signature, the constantly shifting emphasis within the progression gives the song a slightly erratic, interesting edge. From the first few chords, listeners are drawn into the world Fish is creating, captivated by the possibility of what could unfold.
There’s a tangible soundscape to “Irrational,” largely shaped by the vocals. Fish has them dripping in reverb, echoing so expansively that the vocals begin to overlap, lines flowing over one another. He washes the track in this ethereal, gauzy sound, then counteracts that whimsy with a crisp, steady beat. Listeners can hear similar atmospheric composition in Fish’s recent tracks like “2 Seater,” where synths reverberate widely across the mix. He carefully orchestrates the effects so it almost sounds like we’re listening to the track in the middle of an empty warehouse, speakers bouncing the song off of metal walls. That’s the magic of Fish—his ability to immediately transport a listener, sonically and emotionally.
The electric guitar in “Irrational” is another key element of the song’s arrangement. It offers a countermelody to the hooky vocal line, exploring R&B riffs that add a brighter color and contrasting rhythm to the warm synths. Though it’s clear the guitar is beautifully arranged within the storyline of the track, there’s an improvisational feel to it that nods to Fish’s raw roots. His discography is tailored with a masterful hand, but subtle touches of organic sounds show the artist’s DIY ethics. Take his previous single, “I Just Wanna Feel Your Love,” where squeaks of the acoustic guitar strings and metronome clicks are used artistically, elevating them to just another musical element.
These in-the-room sounds let listeners see the person in Fish in addition to the artist. As a songwriter-producer powerhouse, his journey is just as important as the artist he is today. “Irrational” is yet another testament to his mindful artistry and an exciting notion of what is yet to come.
Listen to "Irrational" below:
