On the tail of his equally rowdy and rocking release ‘The Fear I Felt’, Nashville-based singer/songwriter and self-proclaimed guitar Aficionado CS Hellmann returns with the introspectively banging ‘Postcards’. Melting together the loud-but-soft rock tendencies of The Temper Trap with the thoughtful lyricisms of The Slow Show, with a hint of David Holmes’s space rock atmospherics, CS Hellmann’s ‘Postcards’ is a juicy cut of well-weighted musical fun.

The guitar aficionado does deliver with a litany of unusual-sounding guitars that populate the soundscapes of ‘Postcards’ as he gently croons over an unrequited romance, while sudden bursts of ‘Aw’ jumpstart a high-octane chorus with a sizzling guitar riff. The solid backbone delivered by the rapid-fire, syncopated, and bass drum-heavy beat creates a vast rhythmic base over which Hellmann’s guitars go mad with modulated, reverb-drenched tones, scruffy fuzzes, and carefully calculated, delicious overdrives. Truly juicy!

Those of us who relish a tasty, guitar-led tune that is not filled to the brim with blistering, lightning-quick solos will find ‘Postcards’ -as well as any other CS Hellmann song- particularly appealing. A songwriter with an expansive imagination for writing solid tunes, a bird’s eye vision for all his musical output, and an obvious passion for a uniquely spun guitar line, CS Hellmann delivers one more precious song with the jubilant on the outside but with a dark core ‘Postcards’.

‘The Fear I Felt’ sees CS Hellmann, who grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now resides in Nashville, face to face with his father’s lack of trust in his musical abilities, and it sees him completely owning the challenge, coming absolutely on top. The deep-hitting drums, prominent vocals, bittersweet composition, and bonkers guitar tones make the music somewhat reminiscent of Bear’s Den, which is extremely fine in my book.

Where CS Hellmann stands totally out is in how bonkers those guitar tones are. The song features a wailing lead guitar line that doubles down on the post-chorus section, making it a moment of exhilarating excitement. With vocal layering that sees Hellmann provide a colorful harmony line on the captivating chorus, a catchy hook is achieved, giving the song even more value, and supporting Hellmann’s intimate and gentle vocal delivery.

‘The Fear I Felt’ sees Hellmann embracing his roots and his endless list of influences from Nashville giants and global guitar heroes, blending them all lovingly together, and coming up with a beautiful result. An artist with a strong identity to his sound, reverence to his musical roots, and most importantly, a good ear for a really good melody.