David Cloyd, the celebrated indie-music enigma, is stepping back into the spotlight after more than a decade with the release of his highly anticipated new single, ‘Ocean Of Hours’. This marks the first taste of his forthcoming album ‘Red Sky Warning’, due yearly next year. Cloyd’s return promises not only a continuation of the distinctive artistry that made him a cult figure but also a deeper dive into the emotional terrain he’s been traversing throughout his career.
‘Ocean Of Hours’ emerges as a reflective anthem, posing the question, “Where did the time go?”- a poignant meditation co-produced by the renowned Blake Morgan, whose previous collaborations include icons like Lenny Kravitz. The track offers a window into Cloyd’s journey, one that took him from the indie acclaim of his 2009 debut to a quieter life in Buffalo, where he focused on family, production, and his growing role in the regional music scene.
‘Ocean Of Hours’ represents that return- not just to the industry, but to the intimate relationship Cloyd has always had with his music. As he navigates themes of time, love, and identity, this new material reflects the emotional complexity of someone who has lived through both the highs of indie stardom and the quieter, more personal victories of life outside the spotlight.
Fans of Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, and Peter Gabriel will undoubtedly resonate with the same blend of introspective songwriting and innovative production that has always defined Cloyd’s sound. This song is a stunningly nuanced piece, where the vocals are delivered with a deliberate and almost languid pace, creating a striking tension throughout. Cloyd’s vocals seem to intentionally hold back the tempo, as if resisting the natural flow of the music. This purposeful slowing feels like a conscious effort to pause and reflect, giving the song a powerful sense of introspection. The restrained pacing amplifies the song’s underlying intensity, allowing each word and note to resonate with a quiet, forceful energy.
As the song progresses, the instrumentation slowly builds, but it remains tethered to the measured pacing of the vocals, creating a subtle push and pull. The gradual release begins as the gritty, reverberating guitars enter the soundscape, their raw textures weaving through the melody with a sense of freedom, yet still feeling somewhat restrained by the persistent vocal cadence.
The contrast between the instrumental build and the restrained vocal pacing is where the song truly shines, creating a dynamic interplay between control and release. The guitars echo this struggle for release, providing an atmospheric layer that enriches the emotional depth of the track. By the end, the listener is left with a sense of catharsis, as the song delicately balances between its reflective nature and the final, subtle crescendo of the instrumentation.
As Cloyd reenters the national conversation with ‘Ocean Of Hours’, listeners will find themselves drawn into his world once again, where time, love, and music converge into something truly unforgettable. Keep an ear out for Red Sky Warning- if the first single is any indication, David Cloyd is poised to make 2025 a year to remember.
