Quiet Takes - "San Fidel" EP Review

QUIET TAKES - “SAN FIDEL” EP

The lonely highways of the American Southwest still manage to inspire. In a 2020 interview, Sarah Magill/Quiet Takes talked about a solo quarantine trip driving west, doing the drive that a lot of us have done in an almost directionless path through the desert leaving some sort of past while simultaneously driving towards it. The stereo plays a song, near-perfect production, serene harmonies, and you, the listener really feel understood.

In her follow-up to the 2020 ep, Ahem. Magill has made another series of road songs in San Fidel. 5 songs, carefully crafted, rhythmic and steadfast but never rushed. The title track sounds like driving the undulating hills of New Mexico with the windows barely rolled.

MBC is my standout. It’s the album’s anchor, right in the middle. Complex layers over the three-chord foundation ascend and rappel the song through a perfect two and a half minutes. Magill’s vocal confidence is at its peak on MBC, both instructional and demanding. There is so much musical talent on this ep, but the real gold is in Magill’s crafty vocal melodies. On MBC she turns an unstressed syllable into your heart to bring you to tears, then on the next line in three syllables, brings you right back.

The monochromatic visualization of this record is consistent with Quiet Takes’ first ep. On the San Fidel cover, Sarah is rightfully at the center. In lieu of the songs, the imagery is the visualization of the ep’s expression; wind in her hair, open sky, and the calm resolute notion of progress and movement.

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Review by ::

Sam Woodson

Manor Blog Contributor

Manor Records gives 100% of the article author rights to Sam Woodson.