Singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Wes McClintock takes us on a unique sonic experience with his second record Open Dream that was released on the 16th of June 2023. Started during the Pandemic, Open Dream takes a more electronic approach than its predecessor’s while building up on its concept  “as a commentary on modern society’s addiction to technology” as stated by McClintock, so let’s dig deeper into it together. 

Wes McClintock kickstarted Open Dream with the spacey dreamy tune Sky, setting up the mood and promising a unique sonic experience. Imaginary Songs hits next with deep bass and bluesy psychedelic melodies, introducing an escalating structure that only moves forward towards a bigger sound. It keeps on evolving with a spacious sound that allows McClintock‘s diverse melodies and progressions to be properly heard and digested. Falling steers toward a modern electronic sound with classic nostalgic vibes and a tint of psychedelia. Its energetic hyped-up sound boosted the record’s dynamics, while the electronic and progressive rock elements were cleverly arranged and perfectly layered and produced. Exploring quieter and more mellow grounds, Waiting in Line comes next to chill things down as we get closer to the record’s center. It shows more of Wes McClintock‘s diverse influences and his undeniably solid writing skills, he cleverly steered the song’s flow, progression, and pace keeping its mood uncompromised while taking the musical experience to the next level with every added layer. Breaking into Nothing has some improvisational vibes within its extremely interesting structure. The fuzzy distorted raw sound totally fits the deep crunchy bass, their purely melodic flow and strong groove allowed McClintock to play around with big sharp keyboards while the thick riffs kept the energy flowing. Last Time opens with a melancholic dark piano and some 70s progressive escalating guitars and subtle brass, taking us to an emotional verse with a haunting vocal melody before exploding into a big theatrical chorus with amazing harmonies and pounding shifts. Its smooth progression is truly amazing, with a heart-hitting mood, beautifully arranged dramatic sound, and mind-blowing acoustic section, my favorite song off this record so far. Aiming for a brighter and more colourful sound with McClintock‘s spacious sound signature comes the title track Open Dream. Its groovy floating bassline softly carries the listener over the dreamy fluid guitars and warm soothing vocal melody. It has an ambient moody sound with deep progressive rock roots that forms a brilliant combination, producing a mesmerizing flow with an obvious rocking character that can’t be ignored. Reaching See It, Wes McClintock switches to a catchier sound with its Supertramp-ish flow. Cleverly using flowing melodies that easily stick into your head led by clear warm vocals, all within a clear structure with well-crafted layering that subtly incorporates modern electronic elements to the mix. Promises come next flowing as a sweet dream with its perfect guitar tone. Its swaying groove and super chill vibes drew a smile upon my face as I listened to the guitar harmonies and atmospheric orchestrations. Boosting the energy again with some upbeat groovy basslines Home hits next. It elevated the record’s dynamics once again leading to the final song. A Different Kind of Sane ends the record with a sweet smooth flow and haunting uplifting vibes. It has a cool dynamic structure within its mellow pace with bluesy guitar licks, electronic effects, and dominating keyboards, all summing up what Open Dream is all about.

Open Dream is a well-connected record with a solid flow, it shows Wes McClintock‘s character, well-knowledge of his sound and direction, and willingness to explore new grounds. Looking forward to more from Wes McClintock, keep on rocking. Cheers!