After scrapping an album's worth of material that, according to the press release, "sounded like work," Kathryn Calder found herself experimenting with synth in her second attempt to pen the follow-up to 2011's Bright and Vivid. In that effort to stray from the contrived, Calder started writing songs that began "from crafted atmosphere," the same ones that would ultimately make up her upcoming third solo record where love is the central subject.
"Take A Little Time" is the first released single that feels like a full realization of both the process and the lyrical theme that shaped the singer/multi-instrumentalist's newfound focus in the studio.
On the track, Calder paints an airy future-esque soundscape with an ebullient synth and faint droid-like chimes, while thick chugs of muted notes slide across a fretboard, contrasting with the sprightly timbre. They’re elements she’s confident with, enough to eschew a chorus altogether for the instrumentals to take its place, which, in effect, makes the dreamy ambiance feel even more expansive. It gets slightly bolder at one point as pierces of sharp feedback threaten to break the glee in the second verse, until the guitar takes over for a brief solo.
But behind the upbeat pop melody are lyrics that seem to chronicle the pains of a failing relationship. ("Dress me in rags, house me in chains, and see how I still survive.") Calder doesn't wallow the entire time, though. There's a moment of reflection as she contemplates forgiveness in the bridge over soft humming notes and gospel backing vocals, before coming to an epiphany in the climatic outro. "I'll forgive you" Calder repeatedly sings with a readiness to finally let go -- much like the way she did to put the album together.
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