Rising Dublin producer, singer, and songwriter Christian Cohle returns with his highly awaited debut album, “Holy Trouble” and recently released the title track to give listeners an exciting taste of what is to come. Recently heralded by The Line of Best Fit as one of their Artists on the Rise in 2021, who claimed Cohle is “one of the best kept secrets of his native Ireland. Like a mid-era James Blake, Dubliner Cohle’s atmospheric electronica ricochets between bright yearning and ominously dense.”
After years of experimentation, Cohle is ready to show the world a true expression of who he was at the time of creating his album. “Holy Trouble,” the album’s title track, is Cohle’s most powerful single yet, reflecting how he dealt with grief during a tragic issue he was forced to face. Of the song, he says “everyone deals with grief differently, and I dealt with it in my own way, ‘Holy Trouble’ reflects that in some way I think.”
Resounding bass pairs well with a pulsing tempo to develop a powerful soundscape. Christian begins his first verse with a rather somber tone – a muted and tender reflection of his inner thoughts and questions. There is a bitterness behind the words he sings, though his voice does not easily betray him to convey the spite he carries. Dark synths and indulgent swells carry Christian’s impassioned vocals during a cathartic chorus. A turning point emerges about half-way through during an all-instrumental portion of the song. Dazzling synths take over, building into a floating release that sets the previously dark landscape ablaze. As Christian re-enters the song, the lyrics to the chorus is the same, but the tone has shifted. The anger has subsided. Acceptance has taken over. There is a stronger and more resilient inflection in his tone. There is a much lighter resonance in the song as it ends with a shimmering repetition.
While this is inherently an angry song, addressing grief, acceptance, and ultimately courage in a dark time, there is a captivating beauty found within the wondrously ominous production and richly bittersweet vocals. Christian explores a range of themes and life’s tough but rewarding lessons in his upcoming album, out this Friday, 2/19, and if this title track is just a peek into what is to come, then I look forward to the journey that this album will provide.
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