Welcome all to ππΌπ»π»πΌπΉπΉπβπ ππΌπΏπ»π²πΏ, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly – an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of πππ¬ πΌπ§π©ππ¨π© ππ₯π€π©π‘ππππ© playlists.
ππ‘ πππ§ππ – πΌπ£ππ§ππ¨ ππͺππ―π―ππ‘π‘π
Charles is green withβ¦
Corruption is a funny old thing, isnβt it. Various gangs collude with other gangsβ¦ Words that were never said; secret handshakes that never occurred; suitcases of money that never existed before or after switching from one unknown to another. This happens everywhere. Usually with no proof whatsoever. But we know it. So, whatβs the purpose? Whatβs it all for? Is it for the good of man? Well, in a way, yes. One man, usually. It is to fill the deep pockets of the obsessive wanters of more. This is not need. This is not to make sure oneβs family doesnβt starve to death. It is simply to add yet another zero to the end of the incalculable number never disclosed. We, the good, honest, kind folk cannot conceive of such a notion, only adding zeros to the beginning and not the end. The good will plant a tree for its peaceful beauty, its shade, and its environmental advantage. But as soon as your back is turned, itβs gone. No conversation, no request, no reason, no explanation. But an envelope lies at the base of your front door. No name, no sender, no markings of any kind. Once opened, it reveals a small wad of cash, and a typed note: βWe strongly advise you not to do it againβ. Nothing more. We tend to be owned by these people. They have too much power for us to fight back. This clandestine behaviour is more invisible than the Secret Service.
So, how do these dark ogres communicate and conduct their filthy waysβ¦? Itβs not what you know, but who you know. This is how it all works: behind closed doors. There is no public paper trail. Itβs an efficient, unstoppable ring of meanies who simply couldnβt care less about others. Knowledge is one thing, but without the contacts, there is no knowledge. Corruption is rife all over the world; we know this much. But I donβt think there is a place more corrupt than South America. This entire continent is unofficially the darkest of all. Whether itβs for drugs or gold, or even meat or soy, the Amazon Rainforest is being gutted at an unbelievable rate. Just in the last decade, we have lost 15-20% of it due to deforestation (I hate that this word even exists). And since 1978, we have lost at least one million square kilometres. This is gone, and never coming back. And for what? Is this for housing homeless unfortunates? Is it because nature was posing a threat to mankind? I understand that there has to be a balance of nature and humans in the modern world, but this is NOT what we meant. This is NOT balance. It feels more like sick revenge. This human atrocity is the ground-version of blocking out the sun. The thing is, nature is innocent. It always has been. And not only that, but it helps us. We would not exist without nature. COULD not, even. Our pretty green is pretty brown, now. But all so we can turn one green into another: cold, hard cash.
So far, while basking in the glorious English sunshine (no, seriously, itβs actually sunny here), this article isnβt exactly seeming very Easterly. Itβs not Spring-like at all! But I canβt help that. Just like I canβt really do anything about widespread corruption. I CAN, however, talk about music. Some people were born to destroy; others were born to enjoy. I choose joy. And nothing gives me more joy than music. I think you all know that by now. So, in my weekly trawl of new music (aside from the absolutely astounding new album from Raye), I discovered something that was (at least in my own little world) suddenly everywhere. Within the community, on my social media, and on my New Releases page of Apple Music and Spotify, there was a new song by a man who has not released a single thing in three years. His last release being βEmbracing Changeβ. Change, being the operative word. In the intervening years, everything in his life changed. He lost his canine friend. He had to move house – twice. His countryβs politics changed radically. His love life has been both up and down. But perhaps most importantly, like some of us, he had lost the will to make music. Not the ability, but the drive. The incentive. The motivation. The POINT!! Until recently, he had all but resigned himself to just mixing for other artists, despite being one of the greatest and most talented musicians in the community. But thankfully, he got that pang. And a brand new song was born. Well, sort of brand new, anywayβ¦ It was stuck in his womb for quite a while, but weβll talk about that soon. Please welcome Argentinaβs best, Andres Guazzelli!! Was there ever a kinder manβ¦?
You may be wondering how I know all this about Andres. Well, I pay attention. But also I do have the advantage of having insider information. Itβs not about what you know, but who you know. Sound familiarβ¦? You see, these two dark ogres communicate in private too. In depth, every so often. For, this is the way with his ADHD, so I gather. Itβs all or nothing. A conversational chatterbox one moment, then the next moment he isβ¦ well, I couldnβt tell you. I can only suppose βthat dog had a fluffy tailβ (if you happen to get that reference)β¦ Heβs an unusual chap with a story to tell. All the more reason to be telling it in song, surely! I donβt mean βunusualβ like when we say βinterestingβ – ya know: a weirdo. He ainβt a weirdo at all. Heβs just different and refreshing. I think what mainly makes him different is his calm, collected nature, with the quiet honesty and reason of a wise man. Iβm very fond of him, if you couldnβt already tell. I think one reason is that we often see eye-to-eye about things. I mean, not literally eye-to-eye, as itβs more like eye-to-nipple (he is very tall, and I am very not). But the internet sorts this problem – my little iPhone screen suggests he is only around one inch tall, making me feel quite gangly, I must say. I canβt help but feel like I have deviated ever so slightly from the pointβ¦ Ah yes, nipples. NO, that wasnβt it. Ah yes: conversat-see-oh-nay. When we chat, we really chat. And donβt worry (readers or Andres), I wonβt mention anything that I shouldnβt be mentioning. When someone tells me something in confidence, itβs in confidence. I donβt natter and spread things. Your secretβs safe with me. A friend is a friend.
Shall we talk about this new song of his? Letβs. Itβs called βEl Verdeβ (The Green). Although a new song for all of us, it is not technically a new song, but rather something he has wanted out in the open for a while. I was fortunate enough to hear this song back in August ofβ¦β¦ 2021!! The very year the lyrics (by Andres and Jack from Arnoldoβs Lizards) were written and the initial recording was made. But the actual song was written back in 2016. Thatβs a decade ago. A time when we had 15% more of the Amazon Rainforest, as it happens. Speaking of which, thatβs sort of what this song is about. Yes, admittedly the lyrics are in Spanish, but Andres was kind enough to translate them for me at the time. They are beautiful, but very sad lyrics indeed. In Andresβ own words, βItβs a conversation between mankind and Mother Earthβ.
Here is just a chunk of the lyrics (crudely translated and Iβm sure better in Spanish), in English:
In flight I find so many lies in the air
The sun tells me a story while it fades away in tears
βA constant delirium weeps; the forest has been killed
The green we once knew exists no more.β
I heard the moon whisper in the darkness:
βFreedom will come from what you sow.β
My soul bleeds and I wept
They hacked off my wings as well
I feel the dry creeping in.
I rot and sink into the sea
Children of Men, why do you yearn for destruction?
My womb gave birth to the green that walks beside you with every step you take.
And yet, despite being a simple Google translation, isnβt this impressive and powerful stuff? Such pain and emotion. But Andres is the musician, not the writerβ¦ True and not true. An artist is a writer. An inventor. And when the art is song, it needs to involve words just as much as music. Andres doesnβt let down one side with the other. But what ABOUT the music itself, then? Well, as we have come to expect from this man, the music is supoyb. The level or standard is very high, and the whole piece is impeccably arranged. I think Iβm right in saying that most people donβt quite realise that the main part of βproductionβ is arrangement. That is, which notes are played by which instrument. Very different to the actual writing, and very different to the actual mixing. The instruments are mostly organic instruments played for the recording; the strings and horns being the only βprogrammedβ parts. βProgrammingβ, meaning Andres physically playing a keyboard, triggering live samples. The same goes for the quena – an Andean wooden flute – solo (using his own recorded samples), although the remainder of the quena parts were played physically by Andres himself, as was the percussion (the bombo legΓΌero) and piano. The rest of the instruments were played by his chums: Pablo and Joaquin on classical guitar, Nacho on electric guitar, Mauro on bass, Gonzalo on bandoneΓ³n, and Jack and Juli recording 12 tracks of backing vocals. You might think that 12 tracks of backing vocals is quite enough, but Andres thought otherwise, proceeding to record a few more himself. How many more? Oh, just 48. And thatβs just BACKING vocals!! Hey, if itβs needed, itβs needed!
As to the actual style of the song, itβs quite interesting. Itβs unmistakably Argentinian in sound, but with a difference. I gather that itβs basically a bastardised version of a traditional Argentinian folk dance, called the Chacarera. BUT!! In being Andres, he has very much put his own spin on it. In his own words, βIt may be the first progressive Chacarera in historyββ¦! And I wouldnβt be surprised. You see, Andres adores prog (progressive) rock, and it canβt help but seep into his music, no matter the genre. Which I love. Itβs what makes his music original and oh-so Andres. He suspects that while South Americans may love it, Argentinians may hate it. I get it – it ainβt kosher. Itβs contaminated with exciting newness!
But the star of the show is the voice. I think we all know by now that Andres can sing. But I have NEVER heard him manage THIS!! The expression is off the scale! His range in both directions is effortless. I especially love the way he finishes the more sorrowful lines, like a regretful Freddie Mercury after his lover has been slaughtered in a compulsory bullfight. As if to say, βWell, it had to happen, right?β. Andresβ fast vibrato brings such urgency, demanding our attention. His precision in timing is perfect yet never remotely robotic. Such crisp enunciation with every syllable. There are certain times in the song where you can hear him screw up his eyes as he throttles the air with a clenched fist, almost knocking the cans from his head. It is simply just so impressive. βEl Verdeβ was made for the stage.
Of course, the mixing is exceptional. But this is Andres – of COURSE it is.
There is just SO much to take in, here. Five listens will not be enough to notice and acknowledge even half of it. Therefore, it is the law that you must play it at least ten times.
And if you donβt, you might receive an anonymous letter: βWe advise you not to ignore this songβ – no wad of cash, though.
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