“Into the Mystic,” the latest single from the critically acclaimed Andrew Hendryx

URL: http://www.andrewhendryx.com/

Airy strings slip out of the darkness as we descend upon the chic opening bars of “Into the Mystic,” the latest single from the critically acclaimed Andrew Hendryx. Even when it’s joined by a fleeting organ harmony that is as stylistically striking as it is aching and full of yearning, the mandolin play remains the focal point of our attention as we wade through the first few layers of melody that greet us at the onset of the song. Listeners be deceived by this radiant instrumental introduction, though – once singer Dan Lotti of Dangermuffin fame starts to sing, nothing else in the world seems to matter. His voice is lively and divinely tender, and though this track will always be best remembered as a Van Morrison classic, Hendryx’s unique version has the potential to stand the test of time just as well thanks to its charming originality.

There are countless layers of texture for us to dig through in this song, both on the instrumental side and in Lotti’s vocal track, but no matter what component we’re analyzing, the same word consistently comes to mind; physicality. This rendition of “Into the Mystic” is so much more muscular and pointed than the original, but it doesn’t sacrifice any of the band’s natural tonality for its thunderous musical wallop. As is the case with all of his work, Hendryx’s close attention to detail doesn’t allow for any of the intricacies in his recordings to go unrecognized, and we’re treated to the symphony of wistful pop/rock that this song was inarguably always intended to be.

I don’t know if he decided to cover this song based on a suggestion from a close friend, bandmate or Hendryx himself, but there’s no denying that Lotti’s vocal palate is a perfect match for most anything in the Van Morrison discography of hits. The familiar sway in his poetic cadence is charismatic and anything but recycled, and through his conservative style of attack, his powerful voice never drowns out any of the feverish play of the group transpiring in the background. I’ve always loved this song, and to say that it takes a special sort of artist to give it the definition that it deserves might be the understatement of the year, but in Andrew Hendryx and Dan Lotti, we find a pair of musicians who have yet to cut a single between them that didn’t mesmerize both critics and fans alike.

Instrumentally stimulating, cosmetically stunning and literally the antithesis of your typical cover song, Hendryx’s “Into the Mystic” shines like the diamond that it truly is, and from where I sit, elevates the moniker of its star performer to exciting new heights. People have been talking about this guy for a hot minute now, and it doesn’t take much more than a cursory listen of this single to hear precisely what all the fuss has been about. He’s got a natural, organic talent that you don’t come across everyday in this business, and in an era rife with watered down sound-alikes and tepid recreations of what was once an authentically emotional narrative, his music stands out as a refreshingly cathartic collection of treasured melodies crafted exclusively for sophisticated listeners.

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/track/37eisIIrkLOU7xHu4UD0Dg

Michael Rand