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.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙒𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙮 – 𝙐𝙣𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙
Charles foots the bill…
The world is not small. It has never been small. I mean, universally speaking it is tiny, but we’re rarely talking in terms of the Universe. Earth is all we really know; and frankly, that’s more than enough to be getting along with. The question is, do we actually get along with it? Do we have truck with it? (Lovely phrase, ain’t it). But do we? I’m pretty sure most of us will answer quite simply, “No”. Yes, even those who wish to see the positive in everything and everyone. And for those of this inclination, just ask yourself why you feel the need to see the positive in everyone and everything… Is it perhaps because there is so much negative in so much and so many…? Could be. Hence why most will simply say “No”. Was this always the case? Quite possibly, actually. The difference being, we didn’t really know…
In the old days (ugh, old man CC with that line again), our fond planet was seen to most like an unknown universe; in the same way that we know about the existence of other planets (and we gave them the coolest names), yet we know very little about any of them, and we certainly don’t have anything to do with them. A foreign planet to the average person now, is like foreign countries and continents to the average person then. Newspapers would attempt to describe the goings-on of other nations in their other countries, but there was always a comfortable distance and unfamiliarity in tow. Life was simpler in being more insular. It all used to be about family and community; villages and towns. Nothing larger. This alone was more than enough for our quaint little brains. You see, in general, we can only cope with so much.
These days, things are very different. But are they…? Is the world vastly different from such a long time ago? Or is it simply that we are more aware of it all? Horrors and catastrophes from around the globe are thrust upon our retinae in breathtakingly shocking colour. The internet connects us all together in what was apparently supposed to be some sort of peaceful utopia as we all join hands and sing songs. Well, that didn’t happen, did it. It only made us bitter, resentful and craving past ignorance: “If only I never knew”. But is ignorance the answer? I like to think that partial ignorance is, yes. To not get too involved, but to still vaguely know what is going on. We all have a certain view of how the world should be, and how our lives should be/have been, but in having zero power to implement such changes (changes that could easily be drastically dangerous because we could be wrong), our wish becomes a pipe dream. We then naturally start to build barriers; partition walls in order to make our own world a little smaller. Our very own shelter; a soft, familiar duvet repelling the incomprehensible hardness beyond. Ignorance in small doses can be a bit of a lifesaver. Take, for example, the cover artwork of this week’s pick. Does anyone else see the cover as Mulder and Scully…? Those of you who don’t know who they are, you maybe need to tack an extension on to your shelter… One’s personal shelter should not make you feel hemmed in. You never want to be aware of the borders. Those welds you so lovingly and determinedly zapped should not be close enough for inspection. Shoes come in a box. A dozen wine bottles come in a box. An engagement ring comes in a box. One’s personal world, while having limits, should never feel enclosed. Maybe think of it as borderless borders. Oh lord, this is beginning to sound a little like soft Brexit… Not what I meant at all! What I mean is, in the end, a shelter is perfectly okay. We make our own little world within the vast epic world around us. For sanity and happiness, it’s a small price to pay.
But let’s get back to Mulder and Scully; or at least the song connected with its cover. Please welcome a man who is increasingly becoming dangerously regular in my Corner (though believe it or not, it has been 3 months), Gary Taylor, otherwise known as Unobliterated. Look, I can’t help it if some artists refuse to lower their standards…! Great work deserves reward; so here’s my own brand of reward, meagre though it might be. We’re going to be looking at/listening to the brand new single, ‘The Price We Pay’. Hell yes. You all know Gary pretty well by now, so I’ll get straight into the song. So, what’s the meaning behind the title and the lyrics? Good question! For me it is just ambiguous enough. At first I saw it as something similar to what I spoke about above. But then I watched the video… and “my life got flipped, turned upside down” (thank you, Will Smith). It sort of suggests that I was half right, and half VERY wrong. Which is something that I DON’T especially like about music videos. They tend to have a tendency to either spell everything out, or cheapen the music with banal dancing to what might once have been a sensitive topic. Gary’s video does NOT venture into the banal or the dancing, thank the lord. But it does heavily suggest things that had not crossed my mind on first, second, third and fourth listen (without the visuals)…
Those youthful days of innocence are so often scuppered and corrupted, sadly, by drugs. It can cripple one’s entire life if not careful. You could be dabbling with the devil if you run too close, too frequently. The lazy haze can be fun. It can be refreshing. It can remove you from problems and anxieties. But realistically, those impediments are simmering on a low heat, unobliterated, ready to pick up at a later date. Before you know it, you’re hooked. The days become just lengths of time with no noticeable difference from one to the next. What was once a refreshing, exciting change is now an addictive, monotonous hindrance, restricting any progress in life. To leave this life of misery and instead face a fresher perspective has its challenges, and is not an easy task. Especially when you’re surrounded by friends who are equally addled and lost in life. It means leaving behind a side of you; perhaps a great chunk of you. But in the end, the price we pay pales in comparison to what we receive. And when you’ve got a lover with whom to brave this new adventure, the shelter becomes a paradise; a cushioned cocoon of comfort and contentment. And why bloody NOT?!
So, I THINK that’s what it’s about. For all I know, it could be about the extortionate amount charged for a loaf of bread in this current economical climate. Let’s get on to something I definitely know about. Music. YAAAY!!! Sorry, I felt like Snoopy, there. In music, it is quite rare that “cool” is associated with “fun”. And yet, here we are. I think this is Gary’s funnest record to date. With echoes of the Ghostbusters theme, he rips in with drums, bass, perhaps the faintest plucked electric guitar, and organ, organ, OWgan!!! It’s thrilling, fun and oh-so cool. It throws the immediacy of a busy, throbbing bar as you swing open the door, stride and greet the familiar barkeep with a knowing grin. It’s the sound of 22-years-old; positively buzzing. All this, potentially because it’s his best mix yet (mixing is underrated – yes, I WOULD say that). The sound captures the impact and presence of his earlier work, but with more refinement and style. Then what? Well, then Gary’s voice chimes in, clear, crisp and tuned. But ya know what I love about almost ALL of Gary’s work? My favourite thing in music… The thing that is all but forgotten these days… Melody. He is one of the most melodic writers (vocally) in the independent scene – I do believe that. Some focus on guitar virtuosity, some hone in on groove, some are obsessed with clever vocal trills, some are simply all about the woyds… But Gary? I think his forté lies in melody. Of course, there’s so much more to his music, but this is the thing that makes me stick around. So, it really helps that he’s got a damned good voice to carry it!
I have a little task/challenge for you all. It will involve multiple listens, so you must be dedicated to your passion for great music. Choose an instrument (voice included) and concentrate on just that part from beginning to end. Then repeat the process for a different instrument until you have exhausted them all. I am sure you will be fascinated by each and every part. I mean, just take the drums, for example… Golly!!! This is the kind of drum-line that the drummer plays when touring the world! The OWgan? It’s really refreshing, and kind of the key to everything! Those incredible horn parts bursting in and out – crikey, they’re just spot on! Even that guitar in the background, it’s so integral to the rhythm and HEAT of the piece. But then there’s the bass…….. Oh, betcha-by-golly-wow. Mindblowing!!! Simply one of the most thrilling basslines I have heard in a VERY long time. Oh, and do take note of the (almost ever so slightly) calypso section at 3:26. Unobliterated has yet again come up trumps!!! What a pro.
Your bread is also expensive? Huh. Small world.
Listen to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙒𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙮 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!
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