Sometimes a rock album becomes a work of art. When crafted with precision, imagination, and skill, music is created that transcends category or genre. When it’s also imbued with an infusion of love, the results can be transformative. Ifall’s new release “Stillness and Trust” is just such an album.
Though you’ve likely never heard of Caio Duarte – or his pen name Ifall – this can play to his advantage. You have no preconceived ideas of what Ifall’s music should sound like. And considering the scant info found in his press kit or even the video of his first single – which continually obscures his face – we don’t even know what this Ifall looks like. All the better…we can approach the music like an open slate.
“Stillness and Trust” touches the heart in ways that too few albums do. Perhaps due to his Brazilian heritage, Ifall’s delivery is sensitive, passionate, and creative. Yet it is rooted in music which intuitively feels familiar and accessible. Combining an organic folksy feel with an almost metal subconscious, these seven songs are easy to be appreciated by just about any music fan. Yet upon repeated listenings, they wrap themselves around the the listener’s psyche. Therefore it comes as no surprise to learn that the lyrics herein were written for Duarte’s children: lessons of life, love, and the heart.
The album is born as is a child: “And so, like this, you enter made into being, nothing into everything,” sings the opening track “Steel and Ills”. Though certain words shine through the mix, tracking the actual meaning is not easy without a lyric sheet as a reference. This is not due to sloppy production – for the engineering here is masterful – but rather due to Ifall’s unique phrasing and sudden shifts of instrumentation. It’s likely by design, as is his shrouded image on the cover, intended to reveal only certain aspects and let our imagination fill in the rest.
When the lyrics are finally read, we realize that we have been listening to poetic musings describing the indescribable, eliciting wonder and amazement to court the mind of a child. “To sleep, to sing, to yawn, whisper, and dream, the wind flowing inside of you makes you whole.” The words float by in “Air” as if carried by whipping winds of whimsy, the acoustic nature of the music dancing in 3/4 time on the breeze.
“Temple of You” is an album highlight, its transcendent chorus illuminating the listener’s mind through a beautiful blend of acoustic and phased guitars as Ifall’s vocals effortlessly sway, rise, and…fall. “Within me, I have a temple of you. I have mine and you live there, you occupy me and you won’t understand, As no one will ever understand yours.” The subsequent “Heed Within” brings a little more edge, a touch of Opeth perhaps, with vocals that remind of Haken’s Ross Jennings. Dealing with finding yourself in a chaotic, noisy world, also has the most bite on the album.
We quickly transition to the most sensitive piece offered here: “The Hunger and The Thirst”. Tender piano and symphonic support provide the backdrop for Ifall’s impressive vocal delivery, which now starts to approach the terrain of Jeff Buckley. “Sol Ipsis” then kicks up the energy with an acoustic strum straight out of Porcupine Tree’s “Time Flies” (itself borrowed from Floyd’s “Dogs”). Another album highlight, Ifall’s is now in full-on Buckley mode and we start to wonder “Who is this guy?” in earnest. When you find someone who can sing and express like this, hold on tight.
The album closes with the moody “Mount Mistake”. Rooted in keyboards more than the rest of the album, the vocal harmonies snake their way around the listener like smoke rising. It’s an intoxicating ending, even as the lyrics continue to make their plea to their offspring, “You will think that I’m standing tall, that I know the truths, I’ve figured it all. But lost as I am, I’ll plough open the way, I’ll do it all for you.”
And now to reveal one of Ifall’s secrets: the entirety of this recording was done by one man: Caio Duarte. The transcendent voice, the skill behind the guitar, bass, keys, drums, the production – it’s all him. As a professional engineer, he covers the sonic output with skilled ease. Rarely does a one-man show sound *this* good, not just technically but emotionally.
If “Stillness and Trust” succeeds on nearly every level, it falls short purely in terms of length. At only 32 minutes, this qualifies for EP status in the digital age. Still, the recording offers a transcendent half hour of listening pleasure, which often results in hitting the “play” button again upon its conclusion.
To call IFall a diamond in the rough is an understatement. Probably the only way this gem will find its audience is if you, the listener, share it with others. So, after enjoying this artful collection, be sure to spread the word. It will be fascinating to see what Duarte’s children think of this ode to them many decades down the road. But for now, we can all enjoy his sincere outpourings of love in the form of “stillness and trust”.
Released By: Independent
Release Date: December 11th, 2024
Genre: Progressive Rock / Folk Rock
Musicians:
- Caio Duarte / All Instruments, Vocals
“Stillness And Trust” Track-Listing:
- Steel and Ills
- Air
- Temple of You
- Heed Within
- The Hunger and the Thirst
- Sol Ipsis
- Mount Mistake
Listen to “Stillness And Trust” HERE
Perhaps the sleeper underdog album of the year, “Stillness And Trust” is a gem to be treasured. The mysterious author known as Ifall plays and sings every note on the album, exquisitely performed with equal skill and emotion. Moody, heartfelt and transcendent, these seven tracks don’t last nearly long enough but they make their mark and beckon frequent return listenings. Don’t miss this one.
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Songwriting
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Musicianship
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Originality
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