Tacoma-based musician Raymond Hayden, who is signed to local label Maurice the Fish Records, used the breakup of his marriage for lyrical inspiration on “September Sky.” Musically it combines the spacey, progressive rock of bands like Pink Floyd with the piano explorations of George Winston.
The title track starts things off with a bombast of drums and piano. The lyrics are introspective, with a message of hope. “Deep inside there is a struggle to stay alive/ hold on to your dreams/ imagine who they will inspire you to be.”
Next is a cover of “Mad World.” Written by Tears for Fears, it first appeared on their debut album in the early 1980s. Hayden does the ballad version that appeared 20 years later on the soundtrack to “Donnie Darko,” when composers Michael Andrews and Gary Jules rearranged the song in a much slower style.
The Pink Floyd influence is apparent on “Mystic Rhythms.” Like many of the songs, it has a piano intro. The bass line is interesting and the guitar solo tasteful and melodic. “We choose an ending we hope will lead the way. On the wings of disparity fading away.”
“Time To Say Goodbye” is apparently a message to Hayden’s ex-wife. “Now, it’s time to say goodbye, look away toward a new day/ hey, hey it’s a new day come tomorrow/ all you need is to believe.”
“Where Are You Now” is written for someone who committed suicide. “You can’t know how much they miss/ you can’t know how much they love you/ if you walk away from this life.”
“Speaks To You” has singing for nearly three minutes, then Hayden plays piano. Some synthesizers appear in the background. Later they drive the tune into somewhere on the musical landscape between new age and progressive rock.
“A Metaphor” is a duet with Susan Renville, who has a beautiful voice.
“To Be Free” is in a major key. The piano plays a pleasing melody and synthesizer colors the composition. The lyrics describe curiosity about life. “We all have a child who is waiting to break free/ from a world that tells us who to be/ we used to believe in a dream not make believe/ spend our whole lives in search just to be free.”
“Walk With You” is about the death of parents and how the children carry on. “Will we ever feel the same?/ who will help us through this pain?”
Guitar plays a limited role on this album. At times it works against the piano work, detracting rather than contributing something worthwhile to a composition. The guitar licks on “The Dark Road” mesh well with Hayden’s vocals.
This album warrants an instrumental, and Hayden delivers one on “A Dream Of Hope.”
Hayden is a good songwriter. At times his lyrics and singing get a bit melodramatic. His keyboard work is strong. “September Sky” would have benefited from more instrumentals.
Raymond Hayden plays the Swiss in Tacoma at 8 p.m. on June 24 and McCormick Woods Golf Course in Port Orchard at 6:30 p.m. on June 26.
