Album Review: Cal Pacino, Sowing Seeds

Waterford up-and-comer Cal Pacino has delivered his debut album Sowing Seeds, with a unique theatrical jazz and hip-hop blend. Flowing effortlessly between soulful singing and rap verses, Pacino’s poetic lyrics offer insight into love, nature and the truths of life.

With an incredibly full musical composition utilising keys, groovy hip-hop beats, trumpet and bass, Sowing Seeds masters the casual theatrical feel. The opening and titular track has a slow build-up of simple piano and vocals before satisfyingly diving into the full production. Keeping the energy up, 'Groove For Me Tonight' is an undeniably catchy tune that will have almost anyone bopping their head.

Throughout the nearly hour-long project, the tracks flow into one another and take the listener through ups and downs, all while remaining incredibly well produced and melodically infectious. ‘Who Sold You the Gold’ takes the album in a more melancholic direction, as Pacino sings “I’ll try my best to stand up for what I feel is right” and questions moral authority through the lyrics “Who sold you the gold? You claim that it’s yours but we know that you stole.”

Closing on a reprise of the titular track, Pacino fully embraces the overarching theme of nature as wholeness. He raps, “Nature's ways are remarkable/ it's nature’s path we’re embarking on/ if you trust in it then you can’t go wrong,” “Let's say goodbye to the old ways/ let's go outside for the whole day,” “Let's reconnect, give our souls space.”

Sowing Seeds is a must listen and a remarkable debut for Pacino – which brilliantly showcases his wide range of abilities, and inevitable bright future.

Key track: 'Who Sold You The Gold'

Score: 8/10

Out now via Henhouse Records.

Listen to Sowing Seeds:

Watch the music video for 'I've Been Away For A Little While':