The latest single from the Brighton band, Fragile Creatures, does not take on the political system as the 5 piece did on the edgy “A New Low”. Instead this song, penned by front man and band manager, Adam Kidd, rips the band aid of an old romantic wound. If you haven’t been cheated on I applaud you. If you have, it’s kind of like getting fired, it’s confusing and hurtful but ultimately toughens you up. Or in Adam’s case becomes fresh material for another of Fragile Creature’s absorbing songs.
The bending guitar sounds in the intro stab your auditory system like freshly sharpened knife. Adam winds up his Fender to offer a mix of perplexing riffs along with a muted keyboard beats. This is a visceral song as Adam sings with a wounded growl. There is nothing light about this track. This song was conceived on a desolate plane ride back from Spain after a painful end of a long term relationship. He admits “It hurt inside to let the killer go free but I numbed it with the evil weed” This proves a curious reference as this song clocks in at 4:20.
The rhythmic pattern continues its frantic motion much like a gutted person desperately demanding answers. His band mate, Aaron Neville, adds haunting key board effects. As Adam stated this is song conjures up memories of being upended by a trusted lover. You can never go to the same places without the invisible limb wrapping its uncaring hand around yours. This is a song for people who don’t mind threading water in their own sea of darkness. After all, in order to heal from hurt, you need to bleed through the pain. It is neither pleasant nor enjoyable, but it is necessary.
Fragile Creatures proves once again fearless in tackling topics that remain below the surface. They are a sophisticated band that clearly enjoys toying with your mode of thinking. Much like a phantom limb, their presence is palpable. This is the second song released that will appear on their upcoming EP, Yacht Punk. I can’t wait to board the boat.
While Adam may have had a dark relationship turn, the band MOSES has a possible cure for the shattered, lonely ones. London based and rising fan favorite, MOSES, recently dropped their single “You Need L”. This song comes at a time and a holiday season, where it necessary for some TLC. I applaud the boys for rolling on with an edgier version of “Joy”, a song brimming with color, both lyrically and visually. This time the lead singer, Victor Moses, uses his Cockney accent to vocally shake your shoulders. You need LOVE, you lonely creatures surviving in a social media addled, angry government infected society.
The first image in the stark black and white video is of a giant art deco designed clock. The hands keep moving much like grains of sand in the Leeds based 90s band, Spacehog, “In the Meantime” video. It felt like an ominous symbol in the Spagehog video as it does here in this artsy video for “You Need L”. In this short, short film Victor, clad in a black turtleneck and trousers, uses his expression filled eyes to tell a story of his connection to the masses. (He lost his Dad at a young age. I feel that gives him his empathetic ability.) With a higher pitch, he sings with more urgency than on the earlier songs. The video keeps in line with their mission of concept music. They stated they want to combine music with their love of art. This short visual offering quickly shoots from frame to frame. The subjects are people, of all ages, going through their days without much social interaction. The melancholy flavor is evident even though it is clear they are in or on the outskirts of an urban refuge or prison, depending on your thinking. There are people in commuter mode, waiting for a bus or on a tram. The only sign of interaction is a couple hugging. The camera person relies on motoring frames that converge into an almost psychedelic frenzy.There is even a scene of an umbrella with shadowed hands reaching up to the skies. (much like a phantom limb). Victor, doing a boxer like shuffle, keeps imploring “YOU NEED LOVE”. A favorite image of mine is the Labrador with his head eerily above water. The dog is then seen rushing toward his owner who is waiting to toss a stick. It is a simple but brilliant scene. The other image that struck me was elderly man in the commuter station. He sits by his lonesome with his drumsticks playing his own melody.
The quartet once again provides amped up guitar sounds alongside ferocious percussion. Victor handles the front man duties like a pro. MOSES is amassing a loyal fan base across the pond while slowly edging into our system in the States through us spreading the good word. In conclusion, MOSES proves to be yet another delicious, under the radar band that has come to our ever wandering attention in 2019. What will 2020 bring us? Who knows but MOSES will be on our radar for the foreseeable future because like you, precious reader, we all need L!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5oDj4RrvA
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