Candyland by AV Super Sunshine

Working with respected producer Michael Bradford and a cadre of top flight supporting musicians, Wisconsin native AV Super Sunshine scores again with his new single “Candyland”, a physical and well-played take on the effects of giving up medications you think are doing more harm them good. Sunshine has blazed quite a path for himself in a short amount of time thanks to his fresh reinvention of classic rock sounds within a thoroughly modern context. His songwriting and music never sounds painfully retro, like butterflies pinned under glass for listeners to admire, but comes across rather as vital and engaged riffing on longstanding forms that still pack a potent punch for listeners in 2019. Less inspired and talented practitioners of the form may stumble in their efforts to pour old wine into new bottles, but you hear no such struggles with AV Super Sunshine and this single is his finest release yet.

URL: https://www.avsupersunshine.com/

The radio mix has a light psychedelicized feel, ala late 60’s LSD fueled pop, thanks to the presence of Andrew Higley’s B3 keyboards. It provides the key melodic figure for the radio version and pops up throughout the track, but Higley adds to the playing with a number of varying runs illustrating his talents and creativity. None of the supporting musicians sound hidebound to follow locked in arrangements – there’s a free flowing creativity in both versions of the song, the radio take on the cut particularly, that makes it all the more appealing to hear. There’s the presence of a Moog synthesizer, as well, but its effect is understated in comparison.

Michael Bradford’s production is another notch in the belt for this jack of all trades sonic wizard with a long list of credits including Deep Purple and Kid Rock, to give listeners some idea of his flexibility. He has worked with Sunshine for some time now as his bandleader and knows how to frame the Wisconsin songwriter/musician’s strengths for maximum effect. This is all the more noticeable on the rock version of the song as Sunshine and Bradford make very few sweeping changes but the ones that are made matter a great deal.

The key difference is the rhythm section. Brad Pemberton makes his presence felt with hard-hitting and finessed drumming that sets an indelible groove for the performance while Bradford’s bass locks in tight. The fat bass heartbeat is crucial for the rock mix. James House and Sunshine take over electric guitar duties for the performance and weave their playing around one another in an indistinguishable thread that gives this mix extra bite. The rock mix is shorter than its radio counterpart, but there’s never any sense of punches pulled. Instead, it seems to streamline everything to make the deepest possible impact on listeners.

AV Super Sunshine has produced outstanding and memorable material since first emerging in the indie music world a number of years ago and his talents have carried him to national and global notice alike. “Candyland” is another peak in a steadily ascending trajectory and shows his talents are growing at an exponential rate. We’ll be hearing more from this performer and, based on this track, it will reach the same level of excellence if not exceed it.

Troy Johnson