𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: Hanging Out - Alcotomic

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.

𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙩 - 𝘼𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘

Charles has just the one…

Temptation is… Well, what IS temptation? Something that lures. Something too good to resist. Something that sits on your shoulder refusing to allow you to forget. But is this a bad thing? That’s what’s interesting. Temptation tends to err towards the negative. There is usually the feeling of “I really shouldn’t, but…”. Like when you’ve already had two slices of chocolate cake, but now there’s only one slice left… It would be a shame to waste it… And wouldn’t it be more satisfying for that plate to be rid of remnants…? And so, like a wild animal, you pounce and devour. Crumbs a-plenty! Face like a used pig pen. And the plate has relinquished its duty to hold and present. Do you now feel the purest satisfaction? Do you now feel replete? Not really. You feel guilt, and you have a stomach ache. That final slice wouldn’t have had to go to waste. You could have had it the next day. And now you WISH you had had it the next day. But it’s too late. The deed is done. At least you have learnt not to do this silly thing ever again. At least you know now to be abstemious, should this predicament arise in the future…

The following week, you receive a package in the post from an anonymous sender. It is a chocolate cake.

One slice, two slice, three slice, four.

Surely not able to take any more.

But it’s yummy, it’s scrummy, it’s good for my tummy.

So now’s not a good time to listen to mummy.

’Twas the power of will that she tried to instil,

It was only to make sure you wouldn’t get ill.

But you said in your head,

I won’t die, I’m not dead,

I’m just trying to make sure that I’m full and I’m fed.

Just leave me to do what I want, for God’s sake,

It is mine! It is mine! It is only a cake.

The phone rings. “Did you receive the cake? I hope you didn’t eat it all at once like you used to”, said mother…

So that’s chocolate cake. But what about alcohol? I don’t mean drinking multiple bottles of whisky on your own in a fug of despair. I mean the more healthy kind of drinking. Going out with your mates on the weekend and having a bit of a booze-up. Golly, it can be fun. The only problem is knowing when to stop; when to call it a night. The following morning usually reminds us of this. Yet we tend to conveniently forget when we’re out “doing the deed”. Probably mainly due to the fact that there is no plate. There is no limit. And also because it’s just so fun. Most of us don’t drink in order to get drunk (I hope). But it can definitely enhance an evening. Apologies to those of you who don’t drink or are alcoholics. Those who don’t drink are not really missing out. Those who really DO, don’t worry, this isn’t an advert for drinking. It’s more just a mildly interesting psychological thingmie. That we habitually do what we know is bad for us, despite repeated warnings. Glutton for punishment? Or for those with Coeliac disease, perhaps gluten for punishment? The thing is, we’re not stupid. Yet we continue to do what gives us a splitting headache in the morning. and then we predictably say “I will never drink again”, until next time. So, is it just that the pros outweigh the cons? Maybe. Probably, actually. Or maybe we ARE simply stupid…

It’s now time to put down the glass and pick up your glasses. While you’re at it, pick up your headphones. We gots a little music for ya!! This time, it’s in the form of gritty guitars. This is some satisfying pop rock, right here. Please welcome Melbourne’s own Alcotomic, with their brand new single, Hanging Out. And just a quick warning: this song is absurdly catchy. Alcotomic formed in 1996 and immediately hit in a pretty big way. Although the trio is still a threesome, the members have changed over the years. After five intense years of singles, EPs, TV appearances and tours, they needed a break. It turned out to be an extensive break. 20 years, to be precise! The good news is, they’re back, and on top form. The current lineup is now John Baxter on lead vocals and guitar, Paul Inglis on bass, and Jay Pinfold on drums. Pretty sure I’ve got that right - not an easy one to research, due to various changes in the lineup… So! What’s it all about, then? Well, the song is “about that drunk dude who’s sleeping on your couch again and just won’t go home”, says Alcotomic. I’ve had that dude. I’ve BEEN that dude. Ah, youth. Some live and learn. Some don’t. But aren’t these blokes a little past it to be going back to their guitars and “rocking out”…? I have two words for you: Mick and Jagger. You see, once a rocker, always a rocker. It’s in the blood. And if it disappears over time, they were faking it in the first place. These dudes weren’t faking it.

Sound-wise, Hanging Out is fresh from the 90s, but with the zest of the now. Think Supergrass circa ’97, Sleeper circa ’96, and Blur circa ’95-’97. But with Kaiser Chiefs and Maxïmo Park circa ’05. I think what brings them decades into the 21st Century though is their tightness, slickness and direct power. A lot of this is down to the absolutely impeccable mixing of Mark Rains. He’s the one who mixed mainstream artists Marilyn Manson and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, among many others. But this immense sound would not be achievable if the threesome was not already a tight-knit beat combo. Basically, the best of both worlds. Everybody wins. Lucky listeners! I have very little left to say because it’s just not that kind of a song. It ain’t trying to break barriers. It ain’t trying to change the world. It ain’t about subtleties or layers or instrumentation. It ain’t about reverb tails or clever time changes or impossible key modulations. It ain’t cryptic or confusing. It doesn't completely flip your perception upside down. It’s just great rock and roll! Listen and rock out! Having said all that, I mentioned Supergrass for a reason. There’s something in the guitar harmony that just gets me. It’s a tritone “devil’s chord” thang. Without this, it just wouldn’t rock. It would only roll. And as you all know, you can’t have one without the other. I thought for a change I’d make my article like the song. Short, punchy, and to the point… ish.

Alcotomic’s LP is due for release in early 2025.

Drink Responsibly, but make sure to have your cake and eat it. I won’t tell mother.

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