The Hope The Fear offers a breath of fresh air with "Take A Little Time"

There's something undeniably reassuring about this kind of music that feels with the heart rather than shouts at it. New single "Take A Little Time" is by Leeds multi-instrumentalist Alexander Fletcher, aka The Hope The Fear, reminding us that vulnerability & strength can reside in the same sentence. However, the real coup is how sincere "Take A Little Time" feels. It's the sort of song that's not trying too hard. It draws strength from its simplicity and finds comfort in its candor, and these are qualities that make it not only a great song but also a necessary one.

And with the indie-pop punch of 'Fall Right At The Start' earlier this year, Fletcher cranks down the volume and turns up the emotion. "Take A Little Time" kicks things off with an explosive musical swell that melts into a gorgeously spare verse, allowing just Fletcher's voice to be at the forefront. Here, in the lulls, is where the song starts to gasp for air.

His singing evokes raw, yet warm images, like a close-up friend trying to coax you into a pep talk you didn't know you wanted. The lyrics are a gentle reminder in a world of chaos: "Go easy on yourself."  And there is some charm in the fact that this sound, a blend of laid-back indie-pop warmth and interiorized singer-songwriter soul, is being made in Yorkshire. Fletcher isn't just representing the region; he's rewriting the musical boundaries of what it means to be.

Suppose the chorus is the song-scene of sunshine rising, so, then, too, your soul. An uplifting number, not too overproduced for its good, the track's magic lies in the balance of light and dark, bold and soft, and hope and fear. Fletcher's gift for arrangement is showcased here as the song ebbs and flows with effortless ease, every layer adding just the right amount of color without obscuring the canvas.