Deru :: We Will Live On (Friends Of Friends)

We Will Live On is the new album from Emmy Award winning producer/composer Deru aka Benjamin Wynn. Written with the backdrop of news about the worsening climate crisis and pandemic isolation, made themes of legacy, loneliness, helplessness, love and hope emerge.

Getting back to where we belong

I immediately zoned out on track 2 “The Wind” by Deru. I love this because it strips down all of the complex emotion and reminds me that the ticking clock maybe real but time is not. The truth this song’s tick tocks is eased over by a mysterious music box singing, “Don’t worry, everything will be alright.”  Hypnotic and over too soon like a mechanical sunset, this track pacifies me into deep thoughts of time. 

The repetition of that “hammer on a string” dulcimer hit by a delicate hammer, is like that clock we are all afraid of; while the long warm tones underneath it all, at times, sends a message of hope. It’s no wonder that the artist is speaking to us about the current state of our planet. I wish the newer generations of music lovers were able to connect with more of this kind of music as it is, in my humble opinion, getting back to where we belong. 

For example, in track 3, “The Return,” I could imagine the trees and green vegetation changing into little bits and bytes of technology. Finally, the crescendo of the windy tones of the last track, “The Return,” is a chilling reminder that we need to rethink how we live and love. What a ride. Bravo.

Here’s the Igloo Newswire from August 2022 for more information on this release.

We Will Live On is available on Friends Of Friends October 28, 2022. [Bandcamp | Release page]