CoastalRise
You could say that the music of CoastalRise is fueled by a love of the life aquatic and a steadfast faith in a higher power. It’s beachy, yes, but never preachy, even if a majority of the songs are about a spiritual journey. In other words, pagans are welcome. The excellent “Emergency” shows that there’s beauty in crisis. A doleful piano leads the way through reverberating, low-end expanses. Singer Timmy Whiting’s vocals sound a lot like the creaky croon of M Ward, though you’re not likely to hear the latter bring out the funk like Whiting does on “Soul Power.” CoastalRise seems to alternate between breezy, barefooted soul-funk like “Hollow” and heart-wrenching ballads like “Dear Lord.” Whether they’re playing soul or baring souls, this group can make a believer out of anyone.
