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.

𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣 – 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝘼𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙢

Charles meets his alter ego…

So the legend goes, we are all apparently born with morals. So they say. The obvious, clear differentiation between good and bad. A young baby – as opposed to an old one – is as innocent as the bright blue sky. It knows what to do and what not to do. Admittedly it doesn’t really know HOW to do it, hence the green mush all down its front. But at least it TRIED to get said mush in its pie-hole. As a baby, it simply wants to be content and happy. There is no gain in doing something “wrong”. Everything is there for them. Food, warmth, fun silly colourful plastic things to poke in to anywhere they’re not supposed to go. This in itself could be construed as “doing a bad thing”, but this young bundle of joy is really just being inquisitive. Finding things out. All innocent enough. When toddlerdom comes along however, it discovers a cheeky side. It realises that doing something “wrong” can make them giggle. And who doesn’t like giggling?? Or – a wondrous phrase my girlfriend came up with – “I wasn’t laughing, I was just smiling out loud”. Inspired! Back to our toddling friend. It is only when it sees gain, and ways of gaining said gain, that things start to change. It is by now, a young child. It can reach the cupboards and the fridge. It has had dinner. It knows it is not supposed to eat something straight afterwards. Not due to an uber-trendy vegan diet, but simply because it shouldn’t turn into a fat pig too early on. This naughty young thing is still craving a certain sweetness. To get said sweetness, it is to be anything but sweet. It knows that if it asks for the sweet treat, the answer will predictably be “No”. Not because the mother is Lois from Malcolm in the Middle, but because this little person has had this treat five times within the week, and so she feels she has to lay down some rules. No one wants a spoilt chubba-bubba – as cute as it is to squeeze Sweet Cheeks’ sweet cheeks.

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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.

𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 – 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠 𝘼𝙝𝙡𝙢

Charles is all caught up…

The following piece is simply my views and my views only. It says nothing about the New Artist Spotlight and its views (of which it has none). I promised myself I wouldn’t talk about the war. But since it was only a promise to myself, I don’t feel too guilty for breaking it.

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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.

𝘿𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙚 𝙄𝙨𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙣 𝘿𝙖𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙥 – 𝘼𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙤 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖́𝙣

Charles talks science – and art…

We’re so often reading about “The Science” in the papers. The news seems to speak of it like this impossibly unreachable superpower that only the special people will be able to comprehend. Or like it is a filthy rag that no one wants anything to do with. “The Science”: there’s always this slight pause before those two words are delivered. As if it were to be a warning to brace yourself, or to pinch your nose tightly. It also seems as though this pause is for comical effect, as if those two innocent words were to make us corpse in hysterical laughter once uttered. But aside from all this polite observation of mine, it is really just an easy save these days in politics. “Our team of experts has looked at ‘The Science’, and the facts are indisputable”. Huh. Handy get-out clause. Noyce. Blame “The Science”. It is easy because most of us DON’T understand it, so we simply can’t argue. Facts are facts, right…?

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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.

𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 (𝘼 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙀𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚) – 𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞

Uninvited, Charles quietly passes through a memorial service, to breathe in the emotion.

Death, is the one and only thing we can be sure of. Those who have been fortunate enough to join this Earth, will eventually leave it. Or at least move on to greener pastures, depending on your view. It is an inevitable fact of “life”, that it will cease. We only hope that it comes late enough to give us time to have a rich and fulfilling life beforehand. Our dear friend – the Gentleman of Rock – Charlie Watts, passed away very recently. This was very saddening, what with him being the rock of the Stones, but he certainly could be said to have lead a full life, and managed a whole 8 decades before removing his Savile Row suit, to sleep. This will be The Last Time.

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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.

𝙀𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙝 2140 – 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥 (𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩. 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖)

The plot thickens as Charles moves forward…

Each and every week, I not only have to pick a song to review, but I have to work out what in God’s name I’m going to talk about. The good thing is, I can talk about absolutely anything. The bad thing is, I can talk about absolutely anything. There are no real limits. Only that it somehow has to tie in with the song (or the artist). There have been many songs that I have been close to writing about, but the song itself has given me no obvious lead or plot. You know how I write these things – not a standard review, really. And so, it got me thinking about writing in general. I write things about things that artists have written. Writing about writing. It made me think about THEIR writing. Or more specifically, their lyrical plot or even title. This could frame the feel of the music, and it could also have nothing to do with the music – a certain contentious style of juxtaposition. Happy music, sad lyrics. Happy title, moody music. But usually things just fit together to complete and compliment one another.

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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.

𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨 – 𝙇𝙪𝙭 𝘿𝙪𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧

Charles remembers it well…

Memories. We all have them. Well, except for those with Alzheimer’s. But even then, some memories will remain. Usually earlier ones, as they tend to be cast in stone. And it’s those earlier memories on which I would like to dwell. Not the memories of a few months or years ago, but the memories of another era. An era when those who have now passed were still among us. An era when things were done differently. An altogether simpler time, when all generations were – to an extent – in sync with one another. When older people taught the young, as opposed to the other way around. A time when experience actually meant something. When one could spend decades building upon one’s skill without fear of said skill being surplus to requirements. When the word “entertainment” meant a board game at home with the family, or a few bottles of ale with the lads in the smoky local, as old Joanna played the old Joanna in the corner. Not THIS Corner; another corner. A time when going to work meant physically going to work, and when work was not optional. A tie was not only for job interviews and weddings. Footwear was either leather or a gym shoe. Smoking was seen simply as an alternative form of air, and buildings looked like buildings. They also smoked.

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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.

𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 – 𝙀𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙮

Charles is in mourning…

I very nearly did not and could not write this. But if I did not write this, there would not have been a “review” this week. Small though it may be, this is my duty.

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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.

𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 – 𝙑𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙞

Charles talks pop, pop and more pop.

Last week we were in Ancient Rome. It’s time to go back to the future. Great Scott (!), I converted too many watts into the flux capacitor! I meant, the present – with a hint of things to come. Within the last week, Coldplay released a new album. It has been pretty much universally panned by the press, but will inevitably reach number one and be massively successful. Being a huge fan of the band however, after only a couple of listens I personally found it rather special. I love upbeat pop and I love their darker more classical side. This is predominantly a “pop” album with an emphasis on the future, space, aliens and all things cosmic. And of course, that vital source of energy for the days not yet lived: Love. The first single from the album was released around 4 months ago. Its futuristic video was full of Chris Martin (their singer: for those of you who have been unconscious for 20 years) with his blue eyes, the most incredible graphics money can buy, and of course, dancing aliens. All quite silly and absurd, but utterly fun! The 80s have lately had the biggest comeback since, well, the 80s. Coldplay has gone heavy on this, but in a tasteful yet blatant way. More importantly though, it is space and the future that has made the biggest comeback of all. In the 90s it was all thought to be rather naff and old hat – we had delivered a man to the moon (for some reason) some thirty years previous. And we were kind enough to bring him back too! This “new” obsession with space travel (by people even richer than I), paranormal activity and general thoughts (and worries) about the future have made many artists fascinated by it all. Some are using it as a tool to raise awareness about climate change or to make us remember that our “world” is just one of many. But some just like to stick with our old favourite theme: love – with a beautiful dusting of modernity. A backdrop of scenery, if you will.

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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.

𝙀𝙉𝙄𝘿 (𝘼 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧) – 𝙆𝙮𝙡𝙚 𝙈 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣

Charles goes back two generations…

Parents. We can’t avoid them. We can’t ignore them. They are always an important and major part of everyone’s life. For some, they are very much around whether you want it or not. For others, they are a memory. Some of us will love or have loved our parents. Some will love one and resent the other. It is rare to not be close to at least one of them. But the one thing none of you will feel for them is nothing. There is a connection. We all have this in common. Grandparents on the other hand, well, this is where correlations are hard to draw. Many of you will be (or have been) very fond of your grandparents. Very close indeed. But others of you will have barely known them. This is the biggest genetic problem with them: they are usually so bloody old! Bit of a shame, not to mention a bugger. They’re usually the nice ones. The lenient ones. The ones who let you get away with things that your parents wouldn’t allow. Why? Because they want to be loved, and they want to see the love in the child’s eyes. And because they never have to deal with the aftermath of little Tommy eating too many sweets:

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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.

𝙀𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 – 𝘽𝙪𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚

Charles is lost for words…

You know when you’re speaking and you suddenly pause because you’ve either forgotten what you were going to say, or you’re not quite sure how to say what it was you were going to say? You know when you’re struggling to find that specific word you mean, but can’t get the word? When you come up with a list of words it’s not, leaving out the only one it is? Isn’t this annoying? It happens to me all the time. In fact, it’s one of the reasons these “reviews” take me so damned long. I will suddenly freeze and search my brain for that word. It’s not that. It’s not this. It’s not that either. Great! Well, that’s whittled it down a bit. Not very helpful knowing what it isn’t. For a small man, my head is sometimes quite cavernous. That is to say, it echoes like an empty aircraft hangar, as I wonder if that wiggly thinking machine has gone on holiday without even letting me know… These words though, how do we manage to catalogue them all in some sort of order? How do we remember them all? How and why do we summon one particular word over another? And why do we so often fail to do this?

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