Monday, March 18, 2024

“All She Was” by Midwave Breaks – A Song Feature

 

     Reviews of “All She Was" have been posted, and there are comparisons to the storytelling style of classic Bruce Springsteen and modern-day Sam Fender. And we agree; there is an uncommon intelligence in the lyrical description (the lyrics are included in this post). But from the vocal and instrumental perspectives, our comparisons are to Kings of Leon and the guitarist of U2 (“The Edge”). The vocal comparison is most apparent at the start of the song from Midwave Breaks. On the other hand, the chiming timbres through echoing notes, which are perhaps most aligned with The Edge, shine through during the final 30 seconds of “All She Was.”   
 
     Midwave Breaks are a New Zealand duo generating an expansive sound. They are based in Tauranga and comprise multi-instrumentalist Bruce Conlon and drummer Paul Russell. In April 2024, Midwave Breaks will tour with Incubus. For tour information, visit https://www.facebook.com/midwavebreaks/events.

      The band explains “All She Was” as “essentially a love song from lead singer Bruce to his wife and daughter,” with a ‘positive energy, hooky chorus, and a rousing instrumental outro.” The song is one of three tracks on the recently released album “Standing Inside Out.” While the tracks may have been recorded in a farmhouse in rural New Zealand, some were mixed in the U.S by Grammy Award winning engineer Mark Needham, most notable for his work with The Killers (Mr. Brightside) and Imagine Dragons. 




Lyrics of “All She Was” by Midwave Breaks
Could you come a little closer
The streetlights here are the same
They're winding like a river moon
Coming over the horizon
 
The cascading line of people's lives weaving through
The stories told, are the difference
The difference between me and you
We're in this ember light again
 
Into your arms again
We are the storm
Could you turn it down just a little?
Just give me one more day
Cos I'm falling asleep again
 
You are the vespertine, the sophrosyne
And I could catch you in the tallest tower
Just to see you again
 
And all she was, was the best thing I ever knew
Like a tidal wave of the sun
And she never was, anything but the best to you
This ember light
We can make it home just me and you
You and me
 
Coming over the horizon
With the memories slipping back
The journey we made, making up a pattern
Sinking in like Tupac
And I won't even take it back
 
And the way home is pulling me, pulling me back
And I don't even know where I am
But I can feel, I can feel, the pull of the sun and the moon
With the gravity, gravity at my back
 
And all she was, was the best thing I ever knew
Like a tidal wave of the sun
And she never was, anything but the best to you
This ember light
We can make it home just me and you
You and me
 
We can make it home just me and you
You and me
[Repeating]
 
We can make it home just me and you

Friday, March 15, 2024

“Oh Emily” by Somebody's Child – A Song Feature


      The vibrance of the instruments shines brightly right from the outset of "Oh Emily." Powerful percussion initiates the song, soon followed by intertwining guitars. Energetic drums are a near-constant through the track from Somebody’s Child, while the accompanying instrumental contributions vary. Interestingly and creatively, “Oh Emily” does include a brief segment without drumming, followed by a Beatles’ George Martin tape-manipulation sound. The sans-drum segment begins around 2:25 and the appealingly uncommon sound is heard 12 seconds later.
 
     While the instruments exude liveliness, the lyrical message maintains a somber tone: Emily why’d you have to leave and why are you being mean? Nevertheless, the lyrics are refreshingly self-aware and honest - I'm stumbling to my feet and you said I'm fine, but I'm not; And that's just the reality.
 
     Somebody’s Child is the moniker of vocalist/songwriter Cian Godfrey, who is from Dublin, Ireland. When talking about the genesis of the song, he explained:
   “’Oh Emily’ came about when we were at a very early stage of the second album writing. We didn't quite know where it wanted to live yet, and in retrospect this song belongs in its own place. It's interesting to see the development sonically, with where we are now. But at the time it's what started everything off.”
 
     Godfrey is referring to the fact that “Oh Emily” lives as a one-off release between albums. The song was first aired to fans on the band’s sold out UK tour in October 2023. Produced by SC guitarist Shea Tohill at Black Mountain Studios in Co. Louth, Ireland and mixed by Peter Katis (The National, Death Cab For Cutie, Gang of Youths) at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut, “Oh Emily” has all the ingredients of an indie rock classic - tightly wound guitars, yearning lyrics and a nagging chorus.
 
     Somebody’s Child is preparing to initiate a 2024 tour. Six performances are shown below, following the lyrics of “Oh Emily.” For ticket information regarding the six performances and others as they are added, visit https://www.somebodyschildmusic.com/.
 
     “Oh Emily” by Somebody's Child 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SomebodysChildartist/
Website: https://www.somebodyschildmusic.com/
 
Lyrics of “Oh Emily” by Somebody's Child
I said it's nice to meet ya
But my head is in a cloud and I can't see
I'm stumbling to my feet and
You said I'm fine but I'm not
And that's just the reality
 
So take it all or leave it
Cause I'm gone in the morning anyways
You said it's nice to meet ya
Then you went on your way for some time
 
Oh Emily, why'd you have to leave?
Oh Emily, why ya being mean?
Oh Emily, I just don't believe ya
Cause I hear all your secrets whispered in my dreams
 
You still see me with my halo
I'm not the man you always thought I was
And that just feels wrong
I'm no saint, but I'm no devil
Cause I’mma stick it to the man
When all is said and done
 
Oh Emily, why'd you have to leave?
Oh Emily, why ya being mean?
Oh Emily, I just don't believe ya
Cause I hear all your secrets whispered in my dreams
 
Oh Emily, why'd you have to leave?
Oh Emily, why ya being mean?
Oh Emily, I just don't believe ya
Cause I hear all your secrets whispered in my dreams
 
2024 tour dates:
5th Apr - Berlin, DE @ Hole44
7th Apr - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord [SOLD OUT]
10th Apr - London, UK @ Heaven
12th Apr - Dublin, IE @ 3Olympia Theatre
25th May - Leeds, UK @ Live At Leeds
14th Jul - Glasgow, UK @ TRNSMT

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

“what do you say?” by QUIET CONFIDENCE – A Song Feature

 

     “what do you say?” is the first track on the recently released self-titled album from QUIET CONFIDENCE. It should include a public service announcement raising awareness that judging and leaving the song based on its start will lead to a personal disservice. The unadorned initial 47 seconds have an appeal, but probably not sufficient for the entirety of a song. The vocals are heartfelt, but low-key and low energy. And the guitar sounds as if it were a budget friendly purchase by someone considering taking the instrument seriously.
 
     Then, around the 47-second mark of “what do you say?,” a piano signals a shift in energy and contributions. And the first of multiple shifts occurs. The song from QUIET CONFIDENCE masterfully employs a steady crescendo. Still, the most ear-catching shift is the unexpected, impassioned additional vocal contributors toward the end of the song. Interestingly, “what do you say?” returns to its original minimalist approach in mid-question during its final seconds.
 
     QUIET CONFIDENCE is the musical project to Ryan Lane, who is based in Louisville, Kentucky. In an interesting explanation of “what do you say?,” he noted:
   This song opens the album and is a reflection of why I wrote this album during COVID quarantine. I tried to peel back the layers of my thoughts and feelings at the time and why I pursued writing an album. I had some of my very close friends help shout along at the end that seems to answer the rhetorical question of 'what do you say?' A question that's a friendly offering to get lost in this music but also 'what do you say'... when the world is so broken, especially during a pandemic. So... what do you say?”
 
     “what do you say?” by QUIET CONFIDENCE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quiet_confidence/
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/quiet.confidence
 
Lyrics of “what do you say?” by QUIET CONFIDENCE
what do you say?
when time is still
and I wrote all the words
that time could kill
so what do you say?
this is where I go
when everywhere is closed
and I hope you'd want to know
so what do you say?
when I don't know which is worse
they sold some good news
like they know what it's worth
so what do you say?
so what do you say?
 
so what do you say?
when this is all I know
and my lungs can't fill my throat
with the air to find the note
so what do you say?
tonight we'll have a ball
last dance on a star
last chance to crash a car
so what do you say?
so what do you say?
 
so what do you say?
I'll gladly wear that cast again
I'll always be around for you my friend
so what do you say?
when sometimes it gets hard
cause sometimes it gets hard
yeah, sometimes it gets hard
so what do you say?
so what do you say?