believe you me

Sheffield is no longer the city that inspired acts like The Human League through its turbulent political history; these days it is more often a playground of students who spend their time pondering metaphysics.

That sense of exploration is no more apparent than on Drops' debut EP Believe You Me. A literal one-man band, Drops is an acoustic project by local artist Liam Hennessy. Liam produces his music completely from scratch, writing, recording and producing every track from his bedroom. In this way, Believe You Me seems to be Liam Hennessy's take on the world around us.

The EP opens with 'You Have My Word'. A relaxed opener, the track begins with light drums and an addictive guitar riff drifting over your ears right from the get go, lulling you into a peaceful haze. As the track plays on, a clapping beat is introduced and a tinkle of key come into play, lifting you into the playfully fun space of the Drops experience. By the end of the track your worries have been washed away by the trill of the acoustic guitar.

The journey from the centre of reality gains speed with second track 'Star Map'. The tempo speeds up, with a heavier drumbeat and a more pronounced guitar strain hitting the backs of your ear drums. The experience of the music intensifies, resembling an acoustic interpretation of electronic music, sending you drifting through the world of the mind, bouncing from star to star. At which point you fall back down to earth with 'Autumn Walks'. The stuttered nature of the synthetic loop that runs through this track allows you to take stock of everything you've discovered.

This leads to closer 'Return Stones into Sea'. A heady clap, strong beat and light tune, along with an incessant chant that seems almost ritualistic, this song sees Liam saying goodbye to what he knew before he began this journey. And that's what this EP is - a journey. Liam Hennessy, using only the instruments at his disposal and the contours of his mind, takes his listener through the vast realms of human experience.