Few musicians render me speechless, awestruck and inspired all at once, but Tyler Fortier recently managed to do it with his latest album, Fear Of The Unknown. Yes, I review music all the time and listen to artists of all genres and calibres, but Fortier… he’s different. In Fear Of The Unknown, Tyler Fortier strikes a chord – not on his guitar or with his voice (though he’s extremely capable of succeeding at both), but with his resonating message of fellowship and unity in a time of economic, cultural and political instability. He answers those existential questions we ask ourselves almost every day: Who am I? What role do I play in this world? Where do I fit in? Fortier puts those worries to rest with songs that’ll make you laugh, cry, and above all, feel alive.

Washington-born Tyler Fortier now calls Eugene, Oregon home, though for the last couple months he’s been on the road promoting And They Rode Like Wildfire Snaking Through The Hills ‘Neath The Scarlet Sun, an album he released Feb. 19. The 25-year-old had previously told me he’d planned to release two albums this year, presumably because he had so much material (in September, he said he had 15 songs already and would be penning more in the coming weeks). His official site says Fortier plans to release a seventh album, Bang On Time, later this year.

In an introductory note on the album’s Bandcamp page, Fortier writes, “Fear Of The Unknown, at the heart, is a record about humanity. Each day we continue to exist as individuals in an increasingly individualistic society. How does society function as a whole as we continue to grow apart as individuals? Fear Of The Unknown evokes images of a future Armageddon, narrating accounts of finality, existential crises, and ballads of survival.”

 

 

Fear of the Unknown starts off with the dynamic-yet-understated “Mamma, I’m Coming Home,” which was a surprise to me as I’ve only heard upbeat, guitar-centric tunes from Fortier. In the first track, he balances solitary vocals with crescendoing percussion accompaniment that echoes the sobering sentiments of Fortier’s lyrics (“There’s a fire up ahead, blinded by the sun and I’m on the run / Got a blue eyed boy and a wanted sign upon my neck / Crooked river roaming, the leaves of fall unfolding / Mamma, I’m coming home to you”). As I made my way through the album, I soon realized I’d be hard-pressed to find a favorite track among Fortier’s selection. The ballad “If The World Is Ending” tugged at my heartstrings with its simplicity and tenderheartedness; the feeling was soon followed by elation when “To The Promised Land (Through The Dark)” began, Fortier’s vocals and guitar chords reminding me of Bruce Springsteen and John Cougar Mellencamp.

The title track has been a favorite of mine for a while: I first heard Fortier play the song at the Whiteaker Block Party last summer, and featured it in our BackStory series last September. I’d also heard “Into The Heart Of Everyman,” which I highly regard for its punchy rhythm and bold lyrics (“There’s gasoline in the water, so drink it up / Everybody wants to be stronger, le’ts fuck it up / Let’s fuck it up for the next ones”). Something I love about Fortier’s music is his incorporation of violin, mandolin, horns and various other instruments; Abby Young has a fantastic violin solo during “Into The Heart Of Everyman.” Those looking to do a little soul-searching will love the profound “What Do You Want To Fear More?”And just as solemnly as the album began, it ends with “Where The Dark Used To Sleep,” a bluesy, dark track fittingly signaling the end of the journey Fortier has just taken you on.

Though I tend to favor all of his uptempo tracks, “Sing For Our Fellowman” actually made me cry – out of happiness, of course. The spirit of community and togetherness really shines through, undoubtedly in part because of the chorus of voicing joining on the track but also because of the inspirational message of the lyrics, some of which I’ll include here:

Tyler Fortier will be in Moscow, ID tonight at John’s Alley Tavern, and at The Coug in Pullman, WA tomorrow night. The official CD release of Fear of the Unknown will be on April 30; the album is currently available for digital download on Bandcamp.