Across centuries and civilisations, the sun has been a symbol of hope, and it is definitely the star of the show in Way to the Sun, the sophomore album by powerhouse duo Minor Gold, comprised of Dan Parsons and Tracy McNeil. Recorded over the course of a summer week in sunny California, light bursts from this sun-drenched folk-rock album, infusing the lyrics and glowing hazy from the instrumental accompaniment provided by producer Dan Horne and drummer Austin Beede.
The title track kicks us off with a lilting guitar line and is all about the pull of freedom, away from the regimented grind of city life, where the sun never reaches the inhabitants trapped in the shadow of the skyscrapers. The drum beat rolls along in a forward motion like a car leaving the city for the open sky and road – a dream many of us can relate to.
This drive for freedom is also at the heart of ‘Moonlight Silver Highway’, in which the singers struggle to move out of the shadow of the familiarity of their hometown, the vocals wistful and longing; and of ‘Hair Hang Down’ (listen out for the masterful guitar solo in the middle of the track) and the surprisingly melancholy ‘Handstand’, in which the singers dream of escaping unfulfilled lives and financial woes. Once again, the sun is a symbol of hope, sparking a determination to make a change and try for a better future.
Love in its various manifestations is the other key theme of Way to the Sun. The cool guitar riffs of ‘Pretty Peggy’ underscore the ache of loving someone who doesn’t know you exist and struggle to work up the courage to tell them how you feel; ‘Leave a Light On’ is a beautiful ode to the heart, bursting with tenderness and determination to overcome any challenge life throws in the lovers’ way.
‘Love Is a Killer’ marks a shift in tone in the lyrics, reflecting on love lost, perhaps to the real flames of a tragic fire or to the burned bridges of a broken relationship. Crumbling relationships also shape ‘Break it Fake it’, the sun a symbol of fragile hope trying to break through the clouds of regret that hang heavy over the forlorn lover.
We begin to climb back up to the healing warmth of daylight in ‘Lighter Shade of Blue’, which muses on the ups and downs of love in a melancholy tone that is nevertheless infused with hope, the singers seeking to leave loneliness and heartbreak far behind.
Ending the album with a confidence boost, ‘The One Who Loves You’ is a golden call to us to champion and love ourselves in order to get through any darkness we may face in life – the sun beaming out as the constant that fills us with hope for a better tomorrow.
Way to the Sun is everything you want from this season: it is love, freedom, healing and an ode to life. Even the album cover spells out summer – boasting lush, vibrant colours, you can almost taste the salt on the air and picture yourself lazing on a beach whilst the reds and oranges of a fiery sunset play out before you. With beautiful harmonies and the undeniable chemistry between Parsons and McNeil shining through, Way to the Sun is the perfect way to herald the summer.