by Tobias Moore

With a voice that belongs in days gone by, Awash, the latest single by LA based multi-instrumentalist, Runnner, will keep the wheels on turning on those summer drives.

The perfect companion to a long distance road trip, through luminous sprinklings of synth and the sporadic cricket like callings in the instrumentation’s underbelly, Awash flows with an understated vibrance – possessing a gentle glow that lights up the evening sky – with an atmosphere so lucid that you can even feel the wind whistle through your hair.

Yet, it’s not the atmosphere that steals the show. While that may draw you in, it’s the sense of vulnerability that comes across within Noah Weinman’s vocals that will bring you back. There’s no sense of ego: every note comes with an endearing rawness. Perhaps it’s the sleepy warmth that adds to this feeling of comfort. Perhaps it’s the way the song reaches its conclusion and the guitars casually say their goodbyes. Perhaps it’s this tired fanfare – this slacker’s paradise – that makes Awash feel like an open armed welcome.

With its narrative adaptable, there is a journey present in Awash, but it’s not clear as to which part of the arc it may be – that’s part of its charm. As fitting for an introduction, as it is a farewell or anything in between, the single is just as important for Runnner as it is for the listener. And whether you’re aware of Weinman’s work already, or only just stumbling across him for the first time, Awash is an experience that feels just right.

New album, Always Repeating, is out on Run For Cover on 16th July.

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