Charles Connolly

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.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 – 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙥

Charles hunts for the missing info…

I am a thin man. I used to be slim, but now I am decidedly thin. To the point where I lack the strength to lift even so much as a pencil case. Okay, it’s not quite that bad, but I am pretty bloody useless at the moment. My usual wandering mind wonders about whether there is any purpose in us measuring our BMI (body mass index), because a man of fat will probably weigh about the same as a man of muscle… I am neither. I wondered then if it might be mood based (!), but it’s not. Obviously. I sit. All day long. Doing magical musical things. Which is nice, but I just sit. Hence why I am finally starting to do something about it. Starting to. Bit by bit, I will not sit, in order to be somewhat fit. Noyce. I have one concern though. Being fit means changing shape. So while in time I might be fit, my clothes might not fit. So I must make sure I don’t become Schwarzenegger too soon. Admittedly, this is unlikely. But I don’t want to have to get an entire new wardrobe. There is a limit to altering clothes. Although I must say, my alteration chap is rather fast, so if he were able to succeed, I don’t think I’d have to wait too long. What I mean to say is, my tailor’s swift.

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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.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 – 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙤𝙣, 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙇𝙚𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙨𝙤𝙣

Charles is mad for it…

What’s been the biggest news in Britain in the last week? Ukraine trucking on like troopers? Hamas doing what terrorists do best? Perhaps it’s the ever-growing bullet-pointed list of national destruction updated daily by Keir Starmer? Maybe the Paralympics…? No no; unlike the Olympics, the Paralympics rarely gets any news coverage. Well, it must be that Germany is – as the news outlets are less than subtly attempting to lead us to believe – about to “go all Nazi on yo ass”…! How about Trump, Harris, Harris, Trump, Trump, Harris? Mm. Meh. Nope. It wasn’t any of these. I’ll give you a clue. It was music related. “Oh no, has some mega rock legend died, and I didn’t know about it??” – nope, no one major has died. “Oh phew. Oh, you don’t mean…” – I do. While this has been world news (amazingly), Britain has seemingly had a delirious little fling with the relatively recent past. If you had read the English Press this past week, you might be forgiven for thinking that each and every one of the 68 million people in Britain was foaming at the mouth with the news of Oasis reuniting for a few gigs. This comes after many quotes from Noel Gallagher in recent years, stating he would never EVER get back with his brother and the band. The news also comes the very year after his £20 million divorce… Hmmm… Not suspicious at all. How is he possibly expected to survive on the remnants of his meagre fortune (apparently a mere £30 million left)…? Well, to Liam’s delight, Noel caved and reluctantly chose to accept the idea of Oasis making a purported total of around £50 million from these 2025 shows. We can’t have poor little Noel barefoot in the street, busking in Leicester Square. I’m not sure anyone would notice him: there’s always someone there playing Wonderwall.

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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.

𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙤 𝙎𝙚𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 – 𝙐𝙣𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙

Charles winces and wonders…

It’s a funny ole’ world, innit. So much is going on, all the time, everywhere. Some good; mostly not. Yet we’re rarely aware of any of it. Sometimes it’s due to our own ignorance, but usually it’s because we’re kept in the dark. Why is it when someone says “nothing to see here”, there is always something to see there…? Most people take what they’re given. Most people don’t question. With eyes wide open, most people only see. They do not observe and they do not perceive. They do not think. If they argue, it’s because others are arguing. A sheep will stand not comfortably but not uncomfortably. It will simply stand there. It will only bolt if other sheep are moving at speed… So, why? Why do we react so automatically? Is it ease? Is it laziness? Is it trust? Or is it none of these…? Are we actually all thinking the same “that can’t be right”, but are too afraid to open our mouths? Are we perhaps simply scared of querying? Nervous of the potentially worse response? Maybe we just don’t WANT to know. Maybe the whole “ignorance is bliss” thing is safer in our minds. Calmer. We’re all in this together anyway, so maybe if there’s something bad, it’s bad for everyone so I won’t be alone…? That seems a rather strange frame of mind to me. Surely it should be more like the words of The Animals: “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place”, rather than to all go down together…

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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.

𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙁𝙤𝙞𝙡 – 𝙇𝙞𝙡𝙖 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛

Charles sculpts another…

Freshness is everything. In all ways. No one likes stale. No one likes a mundane song, or a sandwich that curls at the edges. That’s right, I’m not just talking about music, I’m talking about food, just like I did briefly last week. And why not? We eat it every few hours… All of us. It’s one of the few things we all have in common. Lately I have found it increasingly difficult to keep food fresh. It could be the warming of the weather right now in London. It could be that I am simply eating less and therefore allowing the food to go off. It could be that my fridge is dying. It could be that my cling film has been moth-eaten, though probably unlikely. If you don’t know what cling film is, you will probably know what Saran wrap is. I never liked using cling film, though I must admit it works, and works well. Foil is just SO much more satisfying, and frankly easier. The problem is, it doesn’t work in the same way as cling film. It just doesn’t cling.

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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.

𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 – 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨, 𝘾𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙚

In all honesty, Charles almost falls and…

Sunday in London was a beautiful thing. Knowing full well (funny expression) the weather was to be glorious, I had set aside the entire day for a long wander on the lovelier side of life, with my girlfriend. Free from screens, free from distractions, free from even music. Yes, I know. Sacrilege. Think of it as a necessary healing. To be anointed by the sun, and little else (I was fully clothed). This little else was in fact mucho else. It was nature and beauty all around. It all does such a great deal for the soul. These simple pleasures. Plus the odd spot of nibbles and drinkies, for we are civilised adults who like a bit of this and also a bit of that. It turns out it is rather easy to enjoy oneself. To do little and yet be utterly contented. But one must let oneself go. It is important to make sure your brain doesn’t scurry back to its usual train of thought in terms of work and “real life”. It was all so perfect. Every moment of this oh-so simple day was just right, to the point where I started to wonder how long it would last. My brain kicked back into action, all suspicious-like. “If everything is so perfect, I must pay for this somehow. Something’s got to give. This can’t last forever. Is something going to spoil this blissful day?” – What kind of weak-minded individual thinks like this??

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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.

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 – 𝙎𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙤

Charles realises what Christmas is all about…

The most special time of year is upon us, whether you like it or not – you’re a right Scrooge if you don’t. Whether you’re a Bible basher or simply a lover of niceness and good times, Christmas is and will always be something special to most of us. A light dusting of snow on the ground, the twinkling of stars in the night sky. Distant carol singers from around the corner. Sure this may not be the case in actuality, but it is present in our hearts. The FEELING of Christmas. All warm and fuzzy. That cosiness that differs from duvet-cosiness. The time for family and cheer. The time for merriment and a kind of chaos that just doesn’t matter and instead makes you laugh. Even in the whitest of modern minimalist rooms, gaudy colourful decorations will adorn the mantelpiece and of course the vital tree. Those who feel that Christmas ornaments should be white and tasteful, I feel have maybe missed the point of Christmas. It is not to blend in with its cold, austere surroundings, but to make one feel like it used to in the old days. A feeling of fondness and warmth. A feeling of peace in a simpler time. Speaking of trees… That smell!!! There is nothing quite like it to bring out the festive mood. The twinkling fairy lights only add to the excitement. It is also the time to bring out the old Christmas records. Seemingly the only time these days when music is allowed to be both popular and old. What’s your favourite kind of Christmas music? Choirs? Carols? Sinatra? Perhaps it’s all that wonderful pop stuff made famous by the “Now That’s What I Call Music – Christmas Album” from the 80s – at least in Britain anyway. Maybe you have a secret penchant for one of the Streisand Christmas albums? Weirdly, I personally like it all! As soon as the calendar clicks into December, I listen to little else – aside from new releases from the New Artist Spotlight, of course.

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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.

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 – 𝘾𝙃𝙑𝙍𝙇𝙄 𝘽𝙇𝙑𝘾𝙆

Charles considers the “Home Alone” effect…

It is coming to the end. I know this is infamously the bleak midwinter, but that’s not quite what I meant. What I meant was, the year is fast coming to a close. It is a time for collecting one’s thoughts. Yes, all of them. That’s a lot of thoughts. Let’s face it, we all started the year with plans. But did we all fulfil said plans? This time last year, I said I would release far more music. How many releases did I manage? Three. Three measly tunes in an entire year. And one of those I didn’t even write! Useless. So that plan fell flat on its face. Maybe next year. Next! I planned to go to Italy in the Summer. Did I succeed in doing so? Did I, heck. Maybe next year. Next! How’s about the hair? I said I would try my hardest to grow more hair on my head. No matter how much I held my breath and screwed up my face like a child who’s just swallowed a teaspoon of vinegar, it just wouldn’t grow. Ah well. We can but try. Next! What about the career? The mixing and producing? Well, I think I’ve succeeded there. In that respect, things are starting to take shape and come to fruition. Well at least that’s one thing. So I’m not a COMPLETE and utter failure. Okay, well I think that’s my thoughts collected – most of them have been collected already in my year’s worth of Connolly’s Corner articles (I’m not really calling them “reviews” anymore – despite each reviewing a song). So now that my thoughts are neatly filed away, alphabetically, chronologically and by mood, what is there to do? Well if there’s anything you really wanted to do in 2022, now’s your last chance. You have but a few days. I would suggest not choosing anything too daring, dramatic or adventurous, or you simply won’t have time. Also, sod that for a game of soldiers.

(more…)

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.

𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙨 – 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡𝙨

Charles adds a little seasoning…

Think back not too long ago. That never-ending, heavy, lethargic summer. The relentless heat. The endless blue sky. The golden tan no longer a novelty; it’s a permanent ultraviolet stain. The trees all lush green with envy as they watch you sip your ice cold drink of choice. You’re slow. You’re tired. You’re raw. You’re just too exposed to the elements, and it’s been too long. “Pray for rain!”, we all cry! Pray for rain. But the next day, not a drop. Nothing but blissful blue. Nothing but scorching sun. Nothing but pure “paradise”… There is no hideaway in which to hide away. You wear too much, you overheat. You wear too little, you burn. You crave the days of change. The days where sweat is a sign of hard work, not simply of being. You wish for the leaves to come down to earth in hues of orange, of yellow and of red. You wish for a cool breeze not articulated by a rotating blade. You wish for a cloud, if only to break the monotony of blue perfection. You wish, you wish, you wish. But in reality, you wait, you wait, you wait.

(more…)

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.

𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 – 𝙀𝙘𝙝𝙤 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚

Charles momentarily forgets the past…

With the passing of time, time passes. This is without exception and by definition what happens. There is no time when time stands still. “Now” is instantly “then”. The future becomes the present, and the present becomes the past. Which is why people get so excited about the lottery, yet couldn’t give a damn about last week’s numbers. But with time comes change. Change in all ways, always. What was once so popular becomes so impossibly unfashionable. A young green fragile stem with but one leaf, becomes a great, grand awe-inspiring oak, towering above almost everything, given time. But given more time, its life is forced to a close, and it becomes, say, a table. Time is everything here. Without time, life is a photograph. Without time, there would be no war, no destruction, no death and no rush. But then again, without time, there would be no peace, no conservation, no life and no rush.

(more…)

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.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 – 𝙂𝙚𝙛𝙖𝙝𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙩

Charles goes to church…

For someone so irreligious as I, God and his troves do make quite a number of appearances in my articles. Please do not forsake me oh Lord, for not conforming to your scriptures, but I give thanks for leading me to my own weekly scriptures. Or some such rubbish. Let’s face it, there is something very satisfying and wholesome about this way of speaking. A church remains largely unaltered by the modern world, with the exception of a card reader in place of a donation box. Even the almighty Lord himself is not impervious to contactless payment… On/Off topic, when at the Roman Baths in Bath the other week, I did chuckle at the sign which read “Do not throw coins into the water, please instead use the contactless donation device located to your right” – completely missing the point of throwing coins into fountains and the like. As if to say that places without such modern payment methods would have dedicated evening staff fishing the pennies out of the water, in order to pay for that leaky roof. It gives a different meaning to Sinatra singing about “three coins in the fountain”… I would imagine the same goes for the “Love Locks” on countless bridges and railings all over the world – they are simply donating padlocks to the nation. That must be the reason. Now if only they supplied the key as well, then we’d all be secure. God almighty, I forgot what we were talking about! Oh yes: God Almighty. Aside from the beauty and romance of it all, even non-believers will turn to it for another reason. Desperation. When almost all hope is lost, one cries for help.

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