A standout single from The Willful Deaf, “Spirit of Youth” weaves psychedelic folk with hazy, dub-inflected rhythms. Leading the project, Matthew John Watts delivers a grippingly vulnerable performance, utilizing psych-leaning harmonies and layered textures to explore themes of helplessness and newfound light. Also joining on the track are percussionist Nick Holder, bassist Roberto Lusardi, and keyboardist Lucio Cavallari, alongside special guest Nicolas Sokolic on banjo and mandolin.

Approachably jangly tones complement Watts’ introspective vocal feeling, letting out that “your awakening gave me a fright” as debonair bass and steady rhythms weave in seamlessly. “With your hand I look to the light.” Backing vocal layers also enamor throughout, reflectively melodic with a power-pop touch. Banjo and mandolin delight in their twangy interplay, driving to a spine-tingling vocal array as the three-minute turn approaches. There, layered vocal warmth frolics into the “I’m a little baby” comparison — the state of helplessness and reliance rendering a vulnerable immersion.

The track’s production captivates in its various psychedelic infusions, particularly in the aforementioned vocal harmonies and “little baby” re-emergence — with shades of both Sun City Girls and The Stone Roses. The cohesion of the instrumentation and vocal textures succeed in their folk, psychedelic, and dub infusions, the latter enjoyably evident at the 30-second mark as the rhythm section assumes more prominence. Also worth checking out are various mixes of the track, below, which include an excellent extended version, even further embracing that psychedelic realm:

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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

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