Toronto singer-songwriter Eric Folino dropped “The World Began This Morning” on February 27th, the lead single from his upcoming full-length album “Hours for the Taking” due March 13th. Produced by Thomas McKay, with drumming from Canadian percussion veteran Davide Direnzo and backup vocals from Katey Morley, the song carries Eric Folino’s signature DNA: classic British pop influences, suburban unease, and lyrics that push toward something hopeful even when the music underneath feels like it’s holding something heavier. Think early 70s progressive pop filtered through a contemporary indie sensibility, with some Bowie in the mix.
Musically, this song is absolutely haunting with its beautifully simplistic layers of intimate acoustic guitar and piano, laying down those heartbreaking chords to create an atmosphere that envelops the listener immediately. The drums elevate the song by creating this melancholic staring-out-the-window vibe that you can’t help but be affected by. The star of the show is definitely the vocals and the beautifully written melodies, whether sung or not.
The contrast between the song’s emotional weight and its optimistic message is what makes “The World Began This Morning” work as well as it does. Eric Folino is writing the kind of song that acknowledges how hard it is to face yourself before it asks you to do it anyway. If this is what the full album sounds like, the March 13th release show at Huether Hotel in Waterloo is worth the trip.
