Cat Ryan's single "Amsterdam" is living proof that when time, talent, and passion finally do converge, good things happen. This, a song that was written many years ago, but never quite finished, has been given life again thanks to the writing of Cat Ryan, joined now by Mary-Anne Murphy and Dan Wright. Together, they've self-produced a set that nicely bridges their initial simplicity with the bold, imaginative sounds they're working with today. "Amsterdam" comes with a singular story that is almost as compelling as the music it bears.
It's a song old and new, made from the past, restored in the present, and designed with a large amount of artistic evolution. What's most impressive about this record is how it finds a way to celebrate the spirit of who Cat Ryan was as a musician without any awkwardness in folding in new, audacious ideas that reflect her journey as an artist. Listeners are guided into a place of warm intimacy that seems both comfortably familiar and thrillingly new. The minimalism of the original idea gives way to intricate layerings of texture and production detail, all done by Mary-Anne and Dan themselves. "Amsterdam" is an admirable statement, and indicative of their commitment to honesty, creativity, and musicality.
The most striking thing about "Amsterdam" is that it conveys the beauty of patience in the process of making things. And the song's evolution from an unfinished idea to a fully formed track is an example of why, sometimes, good art takes time. For fans and newcomers of any vintage, this song provides a profoundly human experience wrapped in melodies you'll still be humming when the last note has vanished into the ether. On "Amsterdam," Cat Ryan shows that the best sounds can come from returning to the past with fresh ears and an open heart.