B-Side Guys

What does a melancholic mermaid with a guitar sound like? Alison answers this seemingly whimsical question with surprising depth on “Rhyme or Reason,” a track that transforms aquatic imagery into emotional revelation through its marriage of crisp acoustic guitar and dreamy synth textures.

The song’s structure mirrors its thematic journey from confusion to clarity. Opening with stark acoustic guitar, the arrangement gradually incorporates oceanic synth elements that create an immersive dreamscape without drowning out the track’s emotional core. This careful balance demonstrates Alison’s skills as both composer and producer.

Her lyrics navigate personal growth with striking imagery, moving from sky to sea to snow. When she declares “I didn’t like the sky that much / Felt like it kept telling me to hush,” the production emphasizes this feeling of constraint before opening into expansive electronic textures that suggest liberation.

The track’s build serves its story of emerging resilience. The progression from “Used to drown in fire” to “now I light up a candle” carries particular weight through Alison’s delivery and the evolving arrangement. Each new sonic element enters with purpose, supporting the narrative of someone learning to transform struggle into strength.

A particularly powerful moment arrives when she asserts “That’s not who I am though / I made it outside of the cold.” The production creates space around these lines, allowing their declaration of self-knowledge to resonate fully before the arrangement swells to support their impact.

As both singer-songwriter and producer, Alison demonstrates remarkable control over her sonic palette. The track’s gradual transformation from intimate acoustic performance to dream pop expanse never feels forced, each new element entering naturally to support the emotional journey.

The closing meditation on playing in snow without a winter coat serves as perfect culmination of the song’s themes. It’s a metaphor for learned resilience that lands with particular impact thanks to the production’s careful balance of electronic and organic elements.

Through its fusion of experimental production choices and deeply personal lyrics, “Rhyme or Reason” achieves Alison’s stated goal of encompassing emotion in auditory form. The track proves that tackling difficult subjects – personal growth, dismissal by others, self-discovery – doesn’t require sacrificing sonic beauty.

As a standalone single, “Rhyme or Reason” showcases Alison’s ability to create what she calls “echoic, deeply personal ballads with strong build ups.” By channeling her experiences through both traditional songwriting and experimental production, she’s created something that feels both intimate and expansive – much like the ocean itself.