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 𝘼 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨 - 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙣
Charles leaves the city for a higher grade…
Cities are impressive. Cities are huge and buzzy. It can sometimes seem like a big city would be able to continue living without the presence of actual life! The buildings, the museums, the galleries, the parks, the clubs, the architecture (you’ve said that, you said buildings. Yes, all right, clever clogs). The heights and grandeur, the world famous stature. The hub of where it all happens. It’s all so compelling. Genuinely exciting! But sometimes it can feel a little overbearing. Would you like to eat a 7 course meal in a swanky restaurant every single day of your life? To me, this is what it can sometimes feel like. Oftentimes (utterly LOATHE this word) one just wants to live a smaller life. A simpler life. To eat a burger while ambling the littler side of the street. Where your thoughts are allowed to wander without getting distracted by awe-inspiring structures (same as buildings, same as architecture. Yes, all right, clever clogs). Say, by the sea? Imagine a little town where the atmosphere is not cloaked in pollution, but simply a sea breeze. A coastal town.
The city, however, does (or at least CAN) spark the mind into gear, suggesting more that the city itself is our own generator, rather than ourselves keeping the city running. In a coastal town, I would imagine that the brain can get a tad lazy; less inquisitive. And so a little stimulation is required, maybe in the form of education…? And so, off we pootle to the only tutoring establishment in the town - for that is the way in these small places - to see if we can achieve a higher level of knowledge and cognitive superiority. Moments before reaching the unusually tall doors of the college - for a small town - I notice a chap called Darren, sitting on a smart, provincial lawn by the side of the entrance. He is plugged into his Walkman. Yes, Walkman. He failed to achieve academic brilliance at a younger age, and so felt that now was the time to “make the grade”.
As I sit beside the youthfully excited Mr. Gatley (for this is his surname), he explains to me how he is so enthralled with his newly found quest for knowledge, that he wrote a song about it…! Darren passes me the loose-clamping curve of wire, complete with foam covered earlets, and presses Play. It turns out he is in a band, or moreover (loathe that word too) he is part of a rather large collective from Vancouver. Coastal Town consists of no fewer than 8 members, and no more than 15…! And the age range, at the time of recording - get this - is from 13 to 76! Okay, the tape has been paused in tension for this duration, so let’s relieve it of its outstretched stress and let it flow once more, by engaging the heads of magnetism. Or something.
Woah!! Let me start by saying, I think this is the best new song I have heard in a year - maybe even longer. Not just from the unsigned poorer folk, but also from the mainstream millionaires. This is a true stunner. Everything is live. Everything is different. Everything is NEW and EXCITING! Yet somehow classic and very satisfying indeed. It may sound awful (bear with me!) and maybe even embarrassing to hear that a song about “good grades and how to achieve them” has been released. Do NOT let this put you off. It is the queerest subject to choose to write about, but actually, why NOT?! We all do schooling. It is a part of our lives. And it could not have been pulled off better than this.
Eunice takes the lead, through this cool stripped-back rocker. Her voice is so present and clear. No Aguilera trills. No nonsense. Just solid singing, with a touch of that cheeky “it wasn’t me” schoolgirl thang for good measure. The chugging guitar riff is bright and clear, never showing signs of muddiness. The bass is deep and satisfying. And the drums (oh the drums!), they’re played by the nephew of the producer (Doug Fury), because why not! The kick and snare bite at every bash. The cymbals sound like deadweight vintage things from the early 70s that only John Bonham of Led Zeppelin would have the strength to shift from their pivot.
There is a kookie quality and subtle uniqueness from beginning to end, where we have regular bars of 2/4 thrown in amongst the more usual bars of 4. Nothing is normal, yet everything sits well. This is my preferred way of writing, personally. To disguise complicated things as simple. This way, it is easy on the ear, but keeps the interest - people often don’t realise why they like it so. As our friend Ed Eagle would say, “the devil’s in the detail”. I am giving away my secrets! Luckily, it’s not that easy to achieve…
As you can see, I have not even attempted my usual detail here, because the song is simply best heard, and not described. I thought it would be better not to spoil any surprises to come. And there are SO many more surprises.
Excitement has flown from the city to reside in this Coastal Town - as if excitement could do anything as dull as “reside”.
Listen to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!
Listen to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Apple Music playlist HERE!
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Thanks for the mention! That‘s editor speak for “read it once more after you know it‘s ready.”
Only you could say so much in a review while still keeping the details sparse enough not to ruin the good bits for the would-be listener. Brilliant work, as always!