Some people have the ability to slot in and perform at any task that is presented to them. Chester is such a person and shows various skills on this album to establish himself as an all-round musician. After working behind the mixing desk for so long and as a back-up band member, he is now standing in the middle of the stage as the main act. The Tiny Pieces Left Behind is his second solo release and it continues where his impressive debut A Murder Of Crows left off. He creates the kind of upbeat foot-tapping music that will see fans of acoustic-based music flock in like bees on a summer day.
After stints with Sunbear and Ten Speed Racer, Chester grew with confidence as he started to expand his musical palette and find his voice. That exploring was still evident on his first album but seems to have settled with a particular style on this record. Richer textures have been introduced to compliment his low-key vocals, which conjures up a composed atmosphere that gives him room to tackle certain topics in his lyrics. Gemma Hayes and Ann Scott chip in with some vocal assistance, but for the most part Chester leaves it to the songs to lure the listener in.
Connected to the thumping indie-pop heart at the centre of this opus are veins of bittersweet twists, electro influenced turns, and gratifying avenues. Everything breathes as one fully operational unit, yet when it is broken down individually it has parts that could be just as compelling on their own. This is clear on tracks such as To Hold Onto Melting Love, Long Distance Friend, and The Right Place.
It is all quite snug and comforting, yet it still has a bite to it that cuts deep. With this album Chester has finally found his musical signature and it is one that could become easily identifiable amongst so many other aspiring indie pop technicians.
