𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: Polar Foil - Lila Proof

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.

I have been buying quite a lot of things lately (quite rare for me), so Amazon has become a bit of a useful friend in recent weeks. I am becoming quite prone to “wondering if something exists”, then looking it up on Amazon to see if it does. Nine times out of ten, it does. The place just has everything. Oh, one quick thing: Jeff Bezos gets such a lot of stick for being a rich, successful businessman… Amazon works brilliantly. I couldn’t hate or even dislike a man who “thought fresh”. So yes, I have nothing against Jeff Bezos and I think Amazon is excellent. Moving back to my curiosity - which, despite the rumours, has never done away with a single feline - I typed in eagerness. I wanted to know if there was something that worked as well as cling film, but had the ease of use of aluminium foil. For those of you who don’t know what aluminium foil is, you will probably know what aluminum foil is. After hitting the “enter” key, I entered and was faced with 14 trillion pages of sponsored entries for noise-cancelling earphones. Okay, maybe Amazon isn’t perfect, but its heart’s in the right place. Eventually, after much scrolling, I came to the more relevant results. Extra thick, extra long, extra heavy-duty, even some promising to biodegrade before my very eyes - because they care more about the environment than my food. But all of it was basically cling film. After tapping “Next” for the umpteenth time, I came across something called Polar Foil…

“Want something that acts like cling film but is as easy as foil?” - YES!!! “We got you”. Nice to be got. “But we’ve gone one step further. No need for that bulky fridge anymore. Simply wrap your foodstuffs in Polar Foil, and it not only seals your delicious snacks in vacuum freshness, but will actually reduce the temperature by up to 35°!! Goodbye fridge! It’s that simple. Buy 3 rolls for the price of 2! But act now to avoid disappointment. Your hummus will thank you.” - WELL!! Once again, Amazon saves the day. Add to basket. No, I STILL do not want Amazon Prime. Buy now. Done! Now we wait… Good LORD, the delivery man is at the door! Hats off, Amazon. I’m impressed. Even before I have closed the door, I’m unwrapping my wrap. No, No, let’s do this in a dignified manner. Only now has it dawned on me how much more space I will have in the kitchen without the fridge. Which reminds me, how on Earth does one get rid of a fridge?? Now, CC, let’s not get ahead of ourself. I have one of the 3 rolls in my hand. It’s shiny and reflective like foil, but sort of rubbery to the touch. Thin, but seemingly strong. I have high hopes. Leftover pasta - a rarity in this house - let’s try that. It wraps, admittedly not as easily as foil, but far easier than cling film. It’s now a waiting game. Ach, out of habit I put it in the fridge. Right. OUT of the fridge. I’ll leave it in the cupboard; that should do it. The next morning I awake with child-like anticipation. Wide-eyed and eager. How’s my pasta - I quite feel like pasta for lunch, so this will be perfect. Why does my kitchen smell vile…? I gingerly opened the cupboard door… JEEEE-sus. My pasta seems to have grown broccoli. That ain’t good. I then look at the packaging to make sure I had wrapped it correctly. Fine print: “Not guaranteed for use outside Antarctica”. Bloody Jeff Bezos. Bastard.

After much cooling off (I stuck my head in the fridge for a bit, relieved that it was still in its rightful place - the fridge and the head), I calmed myself down by listening to some brand new music. That almost ALWAYS does the trick. Sure enough, it did. There have been some mighty COOL tracks out in the last week or two. I contemplated reviewing Jane Marie’s latest masterpiece last week, but I’m pleased I didn’t because she can be proud that she made it straight to number one in the New Artist Spotlight Top 20 yesterday, without any kind of push from my Corner. Marcus Magnusson has a right rocky banger, and Frank Joshua’s mind is still very much fertile. To name but a few. However, there was one very singular track that stood out to me. Having been a NAS member for a few years, it is only now that this artist chooses to release her first single. You might wonder how this is possible, but occasionally we get a PROPER FAN member, who is simply along for the ride and wants to listen to great music that they might otherwise not find elsewhere. They like to be involved in the group and get to know the artists all in one place. That’s pretty saintly. She’s also not yet on social media (I know - weird and rare), hence her reason for joining the NAS. However, being in the community for so long has truly inspired her to get out there and release a song of her own. Please welcome Lila Proof, with her debut single, Polar Foil.

Lila Proóf - her actual name - is one cool Icelandic who grew up in Norway, but now lives in Greenland. I’ve always found it amusing that Iceland is mostly green, and Greenland is mostly ice. Anyway, it seems that this chunk of the world breeds the most eccentrically fascinating people. I would call her "LP" (just as cool as her full name), but Lila is a such a pretty name; I’ll stick with that. So, how on Earth has Lila managed to stay away from the RECORD button for so long, when she’s so evidently MADE for this life? I mean, she really is a natural born artist. Well, the answer until now has been ice sculptures. That’s her bag. She has been making ice sculptures since her 7th birthday, when she was given a sharp knife by her parents, Hootá and Gürta. Don’t ask me which one’s which; I’m still baffled by the idea of a 7-year-old being given a sharp blade for her birthday. I told you it was a singular chunk of the world. Anyway, she was apparently encouraged to cut patterns into the family sofa, so that everyone could be surrounded by her art whenever they sat down. But it was only when they went to a restaurant, several months later that Lila realised her initial calling. There was a huge block of ice in the middle of each table. Apparently this was to show how much time the customers were allotted before the next customers took their place. As soon as the ice had melted they were to free up the table. Again, a REALLY weird chunk of the world. It was apparently this limited time that possessed Lila, and she was in love with the idea of having to make an artwork before the artwork itself was no longer cool. She was also dazzled by the diamond-like glints in the way the light was reflected. Here, we have a beautiful mind. I was delighted to hear that she had finally decided to make music, frankly because I couldn’t stand the idea of someone putting their heart and soul into such a fleeting moment of creation. Art, for me, is what must live on for as long as possible. Our legacy must not melt in a matter of hours or even less.

And so, to Polar Foil. This really is like nothing you have heard before, yet somehow manages familiarity. Almost like having met someone in a previous life. I will start by hacking through your assumption. The song has absolutely nothing to do with the failed product I bought on Amazon. Lyrically, it is about isolation. Cold isolation - presumably brought on by her earliest memories of Iceland (before her family moved to Norway) as it was back then - desolate, bleak and beautiful. Polar Foil uses the metaphor of an igloo. Fake safety. So original, and frankly inspired! She also speaks of climate change and how the passing of time is the ticking of a time bomb; her cocoon that washes away. We’ve had isolation songs. We’ve had climate-change songs. But they’re always a bit like most love songs: nice but predictable. Lila goes the only way she knows: whichever way you didn’t. Take, for example, the lead instrument. Guitar? Piano? Maybe cello? Not even close. You’ll probably notice on first listen that it’s a sound with which you are unfamiliar, but you’ll perhaps also realise its mesmerising quality and how it became a vital part of you. Maybe like heroin is supposed to. This instrument even I had not heard of before my thorough research. It is called the kanootiböng, and is believed to be the only quintuple-reeded instrument ever known to exist. The main reason it is not widely known is that it is notoriously difficult to play, despite the show-offs on social media these days. Even they have not quite discovered it. Or maybe they have, but they simply couldn’t manage it. Lila has been playing since the age of 9, when she carved her own. The very kanootiböng she uses today, at the age of 78. I know, with a voice like Lila’s how could she POSSIBLY be 78!! She sings like an angel with a knife (which I suppose is what she is). I only hope to sound even half as vibrant as she by that age. 78 does however explain the lack of social media. Polar Foil combines everything with nothing. It fills you with so much, yet leaves the space between you and a distant mountain range. It’s a wide track, but it’s the depth that’s impressive. I mean, impressive to the point where I am dumbfounded as to how it was achieved. I’m hoping she’ll give me some Icelandic tips. I’m not pouring ice all over my new Mac, should she suggest such a thing. It’s a stupendous piece of music; far beyond a song. I’m very much looking forward to her follow-up release, due next month; it’s called Yam. But this gives you an entire month to enjoy the wonders of her 26 minute debut. It’s like a starter, main course and pudding combined! But the Proóf is in the pudding.

I really must wrap things up. Just as well I’ve got Polar Foil!

Listen to 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙁𝙤𝙞𝙡 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!

Listen to 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙁𝙤𝙞𝙡 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Apple Music playlist HERE!

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