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.
𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 – 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙉𝙤𝙡𝙙, 𝙀𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙮
Charles ain’t goin’ down…
Now we’re unsafely in the month of scary, let’s talk about fear. Fear is a horror. We’re all afraid of something. Probably many things. Sometimes it is rational, and sometimes not. Examples of rational would be things like flying in an aeroplane; it’s not natural, is it, to be unsupported in the sky, travelling at a million miles an hour. But then again, you’re statistically far more likely to come a cropper whilst driving your own motorcar on the ground; so maybe that’s an example of irrational fear…? Some fear illness. Others fear mice. Many have a fear of ghosts, but that’s silly because ghosts don’t ex- WAAH!! Sorry, it was just the curtain moving in the breeze. Ahem, because ghosts don’t exist. Now that I think of it, most fears amount to the fear of death or at least some physical damage. Which makes sense, since we hold little more dear to us than life itself. But should we FEAR things? Fear and worry have one thing in common: they are completely and utterly pointless. Yes, yes, I know that fear is a chemical automation of some sort, designed to make sure we’re careful. But really, when fear comes along, we should try to replace it with astute observation and high awareness, should there be any danger. In most cases – like the aeroplane – fear should be replaced with a good book and your favourite tipple. Fear, like worry, does not help, and often makes things worse. We become erratic. The rational turns irrational.
There are many fears that lie under the surface, too. Like the aforementioned mice – I didn’t know I had a fear (phobia) of them until I *CC shudders at the memory* saw one in my living room. Freaked out, I did. Screamed like a girl. No, like a posh middle-aged woman of a hundred and fifty years ago, horrified at having seen a young couple kissing in broad daylight; more of a howl than a scream. There I was, clamped to the wall like an electromagnet, blinking no longer an automatic habit, unable to take my eyes off the blighter, because the last thing I wanted was to NOT know where it was. So yeah, fear is indeed a horror. Other fears that lie under the surface will sometimes rear their ugly head in dreams; nightmares, I should say. Teeth wobbling and falling out? Being chased? Drowning? General disasters for which you are embarrassingly unequipped, therefore rendered completely helpless? But then there’s the classic.. Falling. When you dramatically awake, from the black hole (why does it always end fading to black like a film?), sweating, panting, heart racing like the clappers, yet oh-so relieved that yes, it was just a dream; just a dream. But before that dark abyss, down into which you plunge, limbs flailing, like a whirling Hitchcock shot, there is the anticipation in your toes, knowing you’re about to descend. That tingling throb of fear. There is nothing to hold on to, and you just KNOW what’s going to happen. Our poor souls. Who said sleep was relaxing??
But then there’s the other form of falling. Falling in love. Ain’t it such a blissful phrase? Powerlessly overtaken by one of the strongest emotions known to man (and certainly also to woman), as you fall deeply into a cushion of the softest delight. There is nothing quite like it. So why should there ever be a fear of such a beautiful thing?? Well, maybe it is not healthy to be with the other character in this love story… Maybe they’re already currently entwined in the love of another. Hell, maybe YOU are…! Then I could understand the fear; you don’t want to screw things up. Fair dooze! But maybe it’s none of that. Maybe both characters are similarly detached from any other threatening lover… But then there’s still the hugest chance that the love felt is just a one way road; what THEN?! In this case it might be wise to deflect those feelings as quickly as they start to form. But what if your cockles start to tingle, and you just KNOW that the nearly-loved is starting to have similar tingles? Surely this is perfect, no? Well, simply the strength of love – it can be daunting; that “Am I really about to start this?” feeling. Plus, all the other rigmarole that comes with love. The inevitable, eventual problems that occur later on when you realise that their toes freak you out. Or even when you realise the addiction of it all; that you simply can’t cope unless the other is relatively nearby. Maybe you’re simply dreading the idea of it not working out in the end. All this, is the dirty gubbins that is love…
The thing is, sometimes it’s worth the gamble; falling in love. And usually, you just can’t help it. It’s like a full bladder; there comes a time when you just have to release and give in. And don’t you feel so much better afterwards? That’s at least how I felt when listening to the brand new single by Drew Nold and Emily Gray, ‘Not Falling’. Let’s come back to dreams… Dreams don’t only show us deep fear, they open the door and show us the way. And yet, no matter how innocent the dream, no matter how honest it is, how often do we awake from such a dream and instantly push it all back inside again? Why DO we do that? Do we so desperately want to be someone we’re naturally not? Aren’t people weird. So, yes(!), we have a new song to play with. A collaboration, no less, of two artists I have separately reviewed before – both a while ago. Emily, around 9 or 10 months ago; Drew, over two years ago – and that was only as a featured artist. This time around they are split equally, “split” perhaps being the operative word, if the cover and lyrics are anything to go by… Love is in the air. But apparently not to be inhaled, for fear of… for fear of WHAT? Well, only those two will truly know, for they are both the writers of this cutest acoustic tune. It sort of conjures the feeling of Disney, if Disney had been founded in England. I say that because it doesn’t have the over-production with which Disney would lavish it, but also because of the modest, innocent charm of it all. This all makes sense because one half of the musical duo is American while the other is English. Drew is from Missouri, and Emily lives in, well, she lives in Catalonia, but she’s originally from Suffolk (I believe).
Drew is on guitar. Aside from cello, acoustic guitar is the only instrument on the track. I believe it is double-tracked but with slightly different lines. Plucked with precision, yet with the lightest touch. Drew’s voice comes in after a couple of rounds; a bright, honest and comforting voice. It is strong without the power. He sets the scene post-dream. He then drops the M and replaces it with a D… Dread kicks in. From the happy contented verse, comes the brooding, darker pre-chorus. And THIS is where the dry Beatles-esque cello joins the sad party, played by Daniel Gonzalez. Thankfully, the chorus brings back the pep of the verse, complete with bunny-like hops from the cello. Just delightful! Verse two welcomes the lady, Emily. That voice is completely and utterly unmistakable; I have never heard a voice like it in my life, and we know it well. It is the melodious version of her speaking voice. I know this because we have met in person a total of twice, so I have had hours of hearing it in the fleshy-flesh. Can’t quite believe it’s only twice, but there it is. Just in case you thought that sounded like either she doesn’t shut up, or the meetings had been so long and grating I thought they would never end, I didn’t mean that. It’s simply like we have known each other a long while. Anyway, I’m going off the point. Her singing voice. She is just so good at that matter-of-fact way of singing that sounds like a casual chat. So real, so genuine, so honest, and yet still keeping up her signature trills and abrupt pauses. I believe her innocent pain, as I do Drew’s. But when they come together in harmony for that second chorus (1:33-1:54), complete with cello, it is like a flawless Hollywood split-screen. You know the kind; singing alone, together (or together alone, I’m never quite sure). Anyway, THAT’S my fave bit. Next up, we have a rip-roaring chorus, but it’s more like a new version or a part two. New melodies, complete with canonic phrasing shared between the two of them; all in the upper register with mucho gusto. This is where you’re all supposed to sway and sing along. So DO IT!! Eventually we simmer and settle back into that original chorus (like the second), only to end with a full stop like they’re making a stand: they’re NOT falling in LOVE!!! The whole piece is very nicely mixed by Drew himself, and mastered by a chap named Kevin Williams. WHAT a catchy song this is; you won’t believe how it sticks in your head. You have been warned…
I normally don’t go much for these drawn cartoony covers, but THIS one I love. And I know something you probably didn’t know. Who drew the cover? Emily!! Yup, this beautiful little image was drawn by Emily herself. It turns out she has drawn all her artwork since the end of last year. I am beyond impressed.
Who else thinks Drew and Emily look good together…? No, no, CC. Don’t make waves. You’ll anger their partners, or at least riddle them with fear.
WAAH!! Sorry, curtain again. Well, after all, it Shocktober.
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