Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, 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 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.
𝙀𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙚 – 𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞
Charles is green with…
Corruption is a funny old thing, isn’t it. Various gangs collude with other gangs… 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, what’s the purpose? What’s 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 one’s family doesn’t 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, it’s 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: “We strongly advise you not to do it again”. 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 ways…? It’s not what you know, but who you know. This is how it all works: behind closed doors. There is no public paper trail. It’s an efficient, unstoppable ring of meanies who simply couldn’t 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 don’t think there is a place more corrupt than South America. This entire continent is unofficially the darkest of all. Whether it’s 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, it’s actually sunny here), this article isn’t exactly seeming very Easterly. It’s not Spring-like at all! But I can’t help that. Just like I can’t 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 ‘Embracing Change’. 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 country’s 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, anyway… It was stuck in his womb for quite a while, but we’ll talk about that soon. Please welcome Argentina’s best, Andres Guazzelli!! Was there ever a kinder man…?
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. It’s not about what you know, but who you know. Sound familiar…? 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. It’s all or nothing. A conversational chatterbox one moment, then the next moment he is… well, I couldn’t tell you. I can only suppose “that dog had a fluffy tail” (if you happen to get that reference)… He’s an unusual chap with a story to tell. All the more reason to be telling it in song, surely! I don’t mean “unusual” like when we say “interesting” – ya know: a weirdo. He ain’t a weirdo at all. He’s 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. I’m very fond of him, if you couldn’t already tell. I think one reason is that we often see eye-to-eye about things. I mean, not literally eye-to-eye, as it’s 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 can’t help but feel like I have deviated ever so slightly from the point… Ah yes, nipples. NO, that wasn’t it. Ah yes: conversat-see-oh-nay. When we chat, we really chat. And don’t worry (readers or Andres), I won’t mention anything that I shouldn’t be mentioning. When someone tells me something in confidence, it’s in confidence. I don’t natter and spread things. Your secret’s safe with me. A friend is a friend.
Shall we talk about this new song of his? Let’s. It’s called ‘El Verde’ (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 of…… 2021!! The very year the lyrics (by Andres and Jack from Arnoldo’s Lizards) were written and the initial recording was made. But the actual song was written back in 2016. That’s a decade ago. A time when we had 15% more of the Amazon Rainforest, as it happens. Speaking of which, that’s 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 Andres’ own words, “It’s a conversation between mankind and Mother Earth”.
Here is just a chunk of the lyrics (crudely translated and I’m 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
“A constant delirium weeps; the forest has been killed
The green we once knew exists no more.”
I heard the moon whisper in the darkness:
“Freedom will come from what you sow.”
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, isn’t this impressive and powerful stuff? Such pain and emotion. But Andres is the musician, not the writer… 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 doesn’t 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 I’m right in saying that most people don’t quite realise that the main part of “production” 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 “programmed” parts. “Programming”, 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 legüero) 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 bandoneón, 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 that’s just BACKING vocals!! Hey, if it’s needed, it’s needed!
As to the actual style of the song, it’s quite interesting. It’s unmistakably Argentinian in sound, but with a difference. I gather that it’s 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, “It may be the first progressive Chacarera in history”…! And I wouldn’t be surprised. You see, Andres adores prog (progressive) rock, and it can’t help but seep into his music, no matter the genre. Which I love. It’s 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 ain’t kosher. It’s 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, “Well, it had to happen, right?”. Andres’ 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. ‘El Verde’ 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 don’t, you might receive an anonymous letter: “We advise you not to ignore this song” – no wad of cash, though.
Listen to 𝙀𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙚 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!
Listen to 𝙀𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙚 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Apple Music playlist HERE!
Listen to 𝙀𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙚 on YouTube HERE!
Follow 𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞 on Instagram HERE!
Follow 𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞 on TwiX HERE!
Please share this post and let me know your thoughts in the comments below
Leave a Reply to Giuseppe Maria Bità Cancel reply