Blue Sky Effect’s Artist Page is HERE
Blue Sky Effect’s latest release, Ghost in the Sun, oozes British musical charm, bringing with it the unlikely blend of realism and optimism that appears in so much British pop. The guitar-led broken chords of the introduction feel like a nod to the mighty Manic Street Preachers, and when the vocals come in—along with a fuller accompaniment—we’re treated to a new layer of flavour. Ammar, the man behind Blue Sky Effect, has a rich baritone voice, but not in the style of a smooth crooner. Sticking with the British theme, his voice recalls Edwyn Collins, and toward the end of the song, as he reaches for higher notes, Marti Pellow also comes to mind.
This blend of realism and optimism has a long and rich history in British music, often using good weather as a metaphor for hope. Songs such as “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn, “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, and “Always the Sun” by The Stranglers all draw on this imagery. More recently, George Ezra has sung of “green, green grass” and “blue, blue sky” in a song about death. The name Blue Sky Effect presumably reflects Ammar’s aim to create music with an optimistic feel, filling the listener’s imagination with a blue sky more associated with sunnier climes than often-grey Britain.
But the light, poppy feel of Ghost in the Sun slightly veils a more complex use of that imagery. While there is hope in references to “sunlight shimmering” and in the question, “can you break the clouds apart, reach the sunshine up above?”, the idea of a ghost in the sun speaks to loss. After a couple of verses and choruses, a guitar solo leads into the final section of the song, uncovering the heartbreak that has been bubbling beneath the sunny surface, culminating in an almost anguished closing refrain: “you’ll never be there if I need you.”
Musically, however, optimism reigns. There’s an incredibly catchy chorus, beautiful backing vocals (again, I’m tempted north of the border to make a Deacon Blue comparison), and the drums… wow. You can almost see the drummer’s arms moving at great speed under a brilliant blue sky, as the ghost in the sun is soon gone.
So by the end, should we feel exhilarated by the positivity of the music, or drained by the heartbreak revealed in the lyrics? In real life, it’s rarely one or the other. It’s always refreshing when a song doesn’t try to answer every question, but instead embraces the complexity of life—all within a four-minute pop song.
This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist fábjáni
Their Spotify Artist page can be found HERE
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