𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 – this week: Addicted to Failure – LUDIOSIS

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.

𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙚 – 𝙇𝙐𝘿𝙄𝙊𝙎𝙄𝙎

Charles is umming and erring…

Welcome to the wonderful world of Health and Safety. Where a nick or a scratch is a thing of the past. Well, thank GOODness. Why, a scratch is liable to get infected. Which could lead to sepsis. Which could lead to death! I’d better replace that dangerous blade back in its silicone sheath, pronto. Oh, but I must wash the knife first for fear of evil bacteria seeping throughout the country, creating the latest in widespread pandemics. But how then do I wash the inside of the sheath? Ya know, it might be best if I treat them as disposable – I’m sure there’s an automatic subscription plan on Amazon for such things. Yes, that’ll do it. But then again, this is very bad for the environment; that plastic waste will pile up underground, pushing us closer and closer to the sun. And don’t get me started on the dangers of the sun. All in all, it’s probably best if I cut these raw potatoes (dangerous in themselves) with a blunt spoon. I like to err on the side of caution.

It’s quite the phrase, don’t you think? “To err on the side of caution”. And it’s one that we use ad nauseam these days, be it in words or in definition. It runs alongside “Better safe than sorry”. These phrases slip off the tongue with rope and carabiner, so as to be safely rescued for future use. “Safety First” – there’s another one. It seems sensible to me that the first priority in life should be safety. I mean, none of us wants to die. But then again, it also seems rather peculiar. As if the meaning of life is simply to manage to get through it unscathed. “Look at me, I’ve done nothing, experienced zero, achieved zilch, and not a single broken bone!”… But then of course, there’s the cheeky classic: “Always wear protection”. Okay, so it keeps the population down. It calms parents of teenagers. It appeases whorey diseases. But…… “ALWAYS”?? If you heed this advice ad infinitum, you might never finally find out the wherecumfromence of babies. Besides, you could always err on the side of ‘bortion.

While bubble wrap has its uses, it should never be the only wearable. Besides, until Gore-Tex bubble wrap is invented, we’ll quickly sweat and suffocate. Risk is what got us where we are today. Trial and error is at the heart of everything. “If you don’t try, you won’t succeed”. Now, THERE’S a phrase I can cower behind! To err on the side of caution, is to curl up and give up. It’s also one of the main reasons that people are so inherently lazy these days. They’re well aware that if they try something new, they will probably fail – so they don’t try at all. Great. That’s one numb, dull, and frankly pointless population. It is not only great inventors, scientists and artists that should be striving and trying new things; it should be a mandate for every man, woman and child on the surface of this potentially great earth. And it is that vital word “potentially” that I wish for you to see. The potential is there in all of us. Well, to an extent, anyway. Most of us, then. If we keep on being content with an output and success rate of 50-60%, then we might never come close to that ideal 100%. A change will (potentially) do you good – thank you, Sheryl Crow. But a random ill-thought-out change could make things worse. A change will do you bad. I don’t mean for people to change for the sake of change (another common phrase); a random punt is indeed a waste of time, effort and energy. I mean a calculated risk. Calculated to the extent that the probability or likelihood is success rather than failure. We don’t WANT to fail, but sometimes failure is easier and less stressful than the potential of success.

And so, to guitars and all that. This week brings a relative newcomer on the scene; he only started releasing last year in 2025. Now, I know some of you might be thinking that’s a warning sign for HAL (A.I.), but we really can’t start thinking like this, or we’ll end up like old fogeys, moaning that you can’t trust anything new – or anyone young. Because, let’s face it, newness tends to come from the young. We NEED the young, and we’ve all got to start releasing at SOME point. This artist is also a relative newcomer in the community, having only joined at the very end of April. But from what I’ve seen so far, he ain’t one of those “I’ll just stay in the shadows until the end of time” types, but neither is he one of those “Look at me, look at me, I’m so bloody brilliant and I’m such a genius” types. He’s modest, he’s attentive, he’s got a brain, he’s extremely kind and supportive, but most all he’s genuine. He’s also got great taste; by which I mean he likes my music. And just so you know, we have not yet spoken a word to each other. Yet. His is a jib most styled. Please welcome LUDIOSIS, with his brand new shebang, ‘Addicted to Failure’! LUDIOSIS – aside from being yet another member of that ruthless UPPERCASE GANG – is actually an English lad named Daniel Frew. I can’t quite decide if he looks like a Dan or a Daniel. He’s probably fine with either, depending on who’s speaking, but I think I’ll stick with Dan. “Daniel’s the maniel who caniel” slips off the tongue quite without any rope or carabiner, falling face down on the carpet – no motion: it’s dead. So, Dan it is.

I have quietly been watching this artist for a while – God, that sounds creepy; as if I’m rubbing my thighs while drooling a little. Anyway. He has always been good, but I was waiting for him to truly come out of his shell with a bright pride. He’s done it. This chap ain’t addicted to failure. The thing is, it’s not quite failure we mean. No one can really be addicted to failure (except perhaps masochists). It’s more a borderline pass with no merit and certainly no distinction. A certain “that’ll do” attitude. I find this to be common in indie music. Hell, I find this to be common in mainstream music – at least when it comes to writing. But more to the point, I find this to be common in people in general. They’re not wanting to fail, but rather simply not wanting to improve, for fear that it all goes bosom skyward. It’s the risk that puts them off. And – I believe – it is THIS that Dan is portraying in ‘Addicted to Failure’; the inability to change one’s ways for the better. Or: the blindness in people, where they simply don’t see their own flaws.

The drummer hol- wait a sec. Dan does everything, so all that you hear is just this one man. I’ll start again. Standing tall (yes, standing), the drummer holds one stick aloft – pointing to the answer in Heaven – as the audience whoops and spills beer on purpose (despite the extortionate price) – YOLO. His other stick slams down repeatedly on the snare, interjecting occasionally with a hoof to the pedal to the skin of the kick drum. He sits, maintaining poise, energy, balance and rhythm, just as the first guitarist gets the spotlight, centre stage. It is Lennon’s ‘Revolution’ intro – I’m sure you know it well. Mono turns to stereo as double-tracked guitars (and bass) complete the ensemble, hard-panned left and right. It’s reminiscent of Franz Ferdinand and early Bloc Party, but with more “rock” and less 2004 trendy quirk. This is high energy stuff. At 0:45, things go a little more metal, before settling back into the initial vibe. Verse 1 starts at 0:57… That means that the first whole minute is instrumental. Does this mean the song is indeed instrumental? Or does this maybe mean that the song is approximately 43 years long? Nope and nope. The song is under 4 minutes. Meaning we get less than 3 minutes of actual song (excluding the ravishing intro) – which I love. Fast rock songs should generally be pretty short – it keeps the punch and the energy, while our full attention never wanes. I must say, the unusual very long intro is a fabulous choice and works perfectly. Verse 1: welcome to the voice of Dan. But also, welcome to a sound not too dissimilar to early Queens of the Stone Age. In fact, much of the song feels a little like a happier, more energetic take on Interpol and Queens of the Stone Age. Of course, plus many other influences, such as Blondie and even our very own Mal Fantôme and Unobliterated (Dan, you’re not Gary’s long lost brother, are you…?). As I must always say, though, despite all influences, there is that quintessential original LUDIOSIS sound. I absolutely adore the three-part harmony “oohs” running in and out of the piece – it gives things a slightly brighter pop feel with a smile. All in all, the drums are tight, the guitars and bass are supoyb, and Dan has one HECK of a voice. Exquisition incarnate!

Dan’s the man who can.

Do you only ever boil eggs – you don’t even particularly like boiled eggs – because you’re concerned that if you crack the shell, the yolk will split as soon it hits the skillet…? If at first you don’t succeed, fry, fry again.

Listen to 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙚 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!

Listen to 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙚 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Apple Music playlist HERE!

Watch 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙚 on YouTube HERE!

Follow 𝙇𝙐𝘿𝙄𝙊𝙎𝙄𝙎 on Instagram HERE!

Follow 𝙇𝙐𝘿𝙄𝙊𝙎𝙄𝙎 on TwiX HERE!

Please share this post and let me know your thoughts in the comments below