Daniel Ruiz

Described aptly by its creator, Barcelona songwriter Daniel Ruiz, as an “ode to misery,” A Cup of Coffee with Two Sugar Cubes, Cream, and a Tiny Drop of Whiskey is a relaxed and dreamlike work built around layers of hazy guitar, warbling organ, and just a hint of piano. Vaguely idiosyncratic lyrics deal with a woman, her particular taste in beverages, and recollections of a time long passed, and the piece has a decidedly poetic quality, one that's accentuated nicely by a pleasantly swaying momentum. I noticed that Ruiz's Soundcloud page features a Tom Waits cover, which seems appropriate, given the melancholic and almost monotone vocal delivery heard here. Skillfully capturing feelings of nostalgia, loneliness, and ennui, A Cup of Coffee... strikes me as a piece that could find a home as part of a larger work or full album. As a standalone track, however, I found it decent but unremarkable.

6.0 / 10 — Andy