“Texas Time Warp”, the new five-track EP by Ranzel X Kendrick, blends elements of folk, blues, country, and soft rock with a breezy, lived-in feel that gives the music a strong sense of place and authenticity. Kendrick’s voice, mellow and clear, never forces its presence. Instead, it guides the listener gently through carefully crafted songs that sound as if they’ve been carried on the wind across wide Texas plains.
The opener, “Ten Speed Blues”, sets the tone with a meandering, almost meditative groove. There’s a subtle blues undercurrent, but also a laid-back, almost conversational quality to the delivery. This isn’t the blues of drama and grit, but of reflection and time passing slowly. It feels like a musical road trip through dusty backroads, where the journey matters more than the destination.
“Backpacking” shifts gears into a more introspective space. Stripped-down instrumentation allows the melody to take centre stage, supported by thoughtful lyrics and a warm, intimate arrangement. The song captures the spirit of setting out with nothing but a backpack and an open heart, embracing the unknown with quiet optimism. It’s a gentle anthem for wanderers.
The tone lifts with “Lighthearted Happy & High”, a song that practically smiles as it plays. There’s an air of joy and playfulness here, without becoming naive or superficial. Kendrick’s sense of humour—something that runs through much of his songwriting, perhaps influenced by his Grammy-winning uncle Roger Miller—shines through subtly, never stealing the spotlight but always present in the background.
“Where My Treasure Is” brings a slightly darker, more introspective energy. This track feels like a moment of soul-searching—a look inward rather than outward. The sparse arrangement allows space for emotional resonance, while delicate guitar work and restrained vocal phrasing make the piece quietly powerful.
Closing the EP is “Reminisce”, a reflective, heartfelt song that wraps the listener in a gentle haze of memory. It doesn’t wallow in nostalgia, but rather acknowledges the past with warmth and clarity. It’s a fitting conclusion to an EP that feels as much about emotional landscapes as it is about musical ones.
“Texas Time Warp” doesn’t shout for attention or try to impress with flash or gimmick. Its strength lies in its subtlety, its clarity of voice, and the ease with which Kendrick melds genres to serve the song. The result is a timeless, unforced collection of songs that feel lived-in and true. Ranzel X Kendrick may not chase trends, but in doing so, he creates music that resonates on a deeper, more enduring level.
With “Texas Time Warp”, Ranzel X Kendrick continues to prove himself as a true musical individualist—someone who refuses to be boxed into genres and formulas. Building on the groundwork laid by his “Texas Trilogy” albums (“Texas Cactus”, “Texas Sagebrush”, and “Texas Paintbrush”) as well as the more electric “SNAFU by Alias Wayne”, Kendrick delivers a new EP that offers a deeply personal, rootsy journey through sound and storytelling. (7/10) (Ranzel X Kendrick)
