Sinking Man by Scarlet Mill: Review

by Gabe Finch February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023

Sinking Man by Scarlet Mill: Review

Scarlet Mill’s first single of the year 2023, ‘Sinking Man’, is a sad love song about a man who drinks too much to cope with the pain of heartbreak. This Dutch alternative indie band has three members, Jennifer Moesker, Erik Verhoef and Maarten Verhoef, a permanent guest on the saxophones. The song picks up the narrative threads of their previous singles ‘Port Henry’ and ‘You’re Mine’. The song is another example of Scarlet Mill’s storytelling prowess; it’s a slow-paced, glam rock ballad with a sorrowful saxophone solo, melancholy piano and vibrato guitar garlands, and the scary tones of a dark Hammond organ.

A guy who comes to the peaceful and breezy harbor of Port Henry to reflect on his evil actions and wrongdoings ends up drowning his sadness in booze instead. His luck continues to decline from there, and he eventually boards a rickety ship with dubious cargo. The song’s somber piano chords and saxophone solo convey the downtrodden man’s feelings of shame and guilt at his current state of affairs. It is a disturbing reminder of how simple it is to lose oneself in the bottle and how recollections of brighter times may be a painful reminder of what has been lost, all of which the artist has wonderfully expressed via their music.

This song is a must-hear for all individuals who like listening to music that makes them feel deep emotions and reflect on their lives. Fans of the band cannot wait for the publication of Scarlet Mill’s impending second album, in which the whole tale of the song will be presented.