𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: Cloud Atlas (feat. Bill Lieske) - Lubena Nova, Riitala

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.

𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝘼𝙩𝙡𝙖𝙨 (𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩. 𝘽𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙇𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙠𝙚) - 𝙇𝙪𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙖 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙖, 𝙍𝙞𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙖

Charles goes beyond the clouds…

A few weeks ago I wrote about the “unusuals” of the world. Well, it turns out I am obsessed with the unusuals. They are exactly what excites me. A change. Something different. Something new. The freaks are the rare ones. And I don’t mean that derogatorily; quite the opposite. Mediocrity is quite normal. Usual, even. And mediocrity doesn’t excite me. I can’t imagine it excites anyone. Life is quite dull if everything is predictable. Most people go with the flow, which makes for a predictable outcome. While we understand this, and it can be somewhat comforting, it is something else that makes us pay attention. But also, perhaps most people would find this difference inaccessible, because it might not be relatable; which I understand. For me, however, it’s what I like. What with me being a traditionalist of sorts, it might surprise some to learn that I crave newness and invention, but that’s the funny thing about me. With certain things, I like the old, trodden way. With others, I want to be refreshed. Architecture, for example, I like to stay traditional. But that isn’t because I don’t like change; it’s because I don’t like any of the change since, say, the 1930s. All the architecture since then may be new, but I simply don’t like it. I won’t automatically like something new and original just because it’s new and original. If, for example, it was decided that all roads in Britain were to be painted shocking pink, it would be unique. It would never have been done before. But is that to say it would excite me? It would not. It would make me cringe and wonder “what on Earth this world is coming to”, like an old fogey. Basically, newness does not always equal goodness.

But my GOODness, does ART need a boost of newness! I’m not saying the Billboard Charts should become a jazz-fest of some sort, God no. But we can’t go on with the same old predictable tripe, year in, year out. I am mainly, of course, talking about music; something I rarely do in my intros. I am pleased to say that it seems to be independent artists flying the flag of invention and bold, new statement. Probably because they are not pressured by big labels with big investors. The investors so constantly tangled in their own safety net, unable to take the entrepreneurial risk that once moved art and the world forward. BUT!! It isn’t just the bland artists and labels that are to blame for such predictable drivel… It’s the listeners. You see, if you consistently put up with the mush they dish out, it ain’t gonna change. If the big labels see their figures plummeting, they might actually start to think, and start to change. But until then, I don’t see a shift any time soon. Alongside all the new independent releases, I do still try to keep up with the mainstream, but it’s harder and harder. Gruelling, even. Independent artists are often at the forefront of change, while the huge megastars are at the arse-end of slovenly. This is all wrong, surely. The biggest should be the best. They should be who we independent artists look up to. Like “in the old days” (old fogey speaking). The big hitters should be our aspiration, yet I personally look at these stars, and almost pity them. Correction, I pity their output. I don’t pity obscenely rich, obscenely famous, and obscenely powerful undeserving people.

For a perfect example of this, I will be hopping on the bandwagon - something I rarely do - and speaking of dear Katy Perry. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I used to be quite a fan of hers. Her music used to be slick, fun pop done well; and let’s face it, she was always easy on the eye. Well… We all know about her “space mission”, or: selfies with a flower… Which happened to coincide with a brand new tour, in order to flaunt her latest batch of dated beats. Let’s just say it didn’t go down too well. Misjudged, is putting it lightly. But then this morning I saw a clip of her tour… Good, GOD. Tap here to see what I mean (swipe left to see all 3 clips). Ya know when a 4-year-old dances at a birthday party? Or when an 8-year-old has the starring “action role” in the school play…? Well, this came to mind. It’s not just about the lack of originality in the mainstream, but that things suddenly got so very sloppy. THIS is apparently the very best. To an extent, independent artists have the excuse of NOT having the backing of a major label, NOR having the time to perfect their art. But these days, even this excuse is wearing thin. A very affordable microphone and a couple of instruments is really all you need. A few hundred quid will get you excellent work from an engineer who really knows what they’re doing. A slick lyric video is so cheap, quick and easy these days. And of course, all the musical talent can come from you - you will need a lot of that. The very best of the independent artists manage to release music that is simply LEAGUES ahead of the mainstream - a lot of which appears in this Corner of mine (the splendour, not the mainstream). Mainly because it’s different. It’s fresh. It’s vibrant, and it’s interesting. Welcome back to ART; where original talent rules the roost.

These freaks of nature are rare. These brilliant musicians and artists who never seem to sound like they’ve LEARNT how to do it. The envious ones say “You’re lucky; you’re gifted”. PAH!! Those envious ones evidently have no idea as to how much time, effort and dedication it takes in order to become this good. It ain’t a gift! But that doesn’t mean that anyone can do it. There has to be a spark to begin with, this is true; but it takes far more to make a raging inferno. Being a Flintstone is nothing without the fuel and the combustion. The fuel is all the music that has ever existed - one must devour it obsessively. The combustion needs to come from the artist’s incessant, relentless hard work. It is the only way. Experience born from previous brilliance. And this is EVERYthing I am talking about this week. Please welcome two, or three, or four such rarities (depending on how you look at it). I’ll start with the main two: Lubena Nova and Riitala. I’ve started, so they’re Finnish. The other two are Bill Lieske and Andres Guazzelli, based in North and South America, respectively. Lubena (which may or may not be her real name) is on vocal goddessing and lyrical duties, Bill is the saxophone king, Andres is the mixing wonder, and Jari (Riitala) is on hand for basically everything else. Pretty much the entire composition, arrangement, orchestration and playing (except sax) was done by Jari. With your average singer, one might assume that this should really therefore have been a Riitala release, rather than a “collab”. But Lubena is not your average singer. She is decidedly UNaverage. In fact, she’s absolutely blinding, and like nothing you have ever heard before. I can pretty much guarantee that.

This is Cloud Atlas; but let’s start from the beginning. In tight shuffle, we crescendo into this almighty piece with OWgan (probably Rhodes), guitar, bass and drums. That is, before the Major 7th is ditched for the minor shuffle, with Bill Lieske (nicknamed Lisky) taking the spotlight, the limelight and all of the other lights the stage manager can muster. It’s slinky, cool and classic. This is one of those sax lines that you can’t believe isn’t already famous. But it isn’t! Jari’s chords underpin this with such mechanical precision that it’s like his hands are built from laser-cut cogs, both on Rhodes (probably) and guitar. The bass and drums do what they’re supposed to: hold down that groove. The air is thick, warm and pretty sexy. But just 24 seconds into this progressive extravaganza, our curvy lady replaces Bill for the meantime. Lubena enters with evident fondness for that initial Major 7th chord. Whatever voice you were expecting, it sure wasn’t this one, believe me. This is full-on opera. Her voice is a true operatic voice. I don’t mean that she has a vibrato that won’t sit still, or that she rather fancies herself as a bit of a “diva”. Lubena Nova IS a genuine diva. But WAIT!! I know that to some of you this will be an instant turn-off, but you need to listen. This not anything like Don Giovanni, La Traviata or Carmen (although I’m sure she could easily pull these off too). This is something completely different. Utterly new, at least to my limited knowledge. Lubena almost manages to turn her voice inside out! Cloud Atlas is not pop, but the saxophone does give you something to latch on to (and swoon to), as does the chorus. I suppose it could be considered as progressive rock (prog, as it’s called). But my GOLLY, what a piece. Even before the halfway point, you will feel as though you have been through an opera of sorts. Partly due to Andres’ supoyb mixing, the piece maintains such a smooth, controlled groove throughout, making it feel less complicated than it actually is. And it IS most complicated. Cloud Atlas is a showcase of Jari Riitala’s expertise and raw talent. Bill and Andres were the obvious choice when it came to completing those highest of standards.

But let’s talk about the meaning of the piece. You know those blissful times you remember with a loved one, lying on the grass, staring at the clouds in the sky? Pointing at one, saying it looks like a T-Rex? And the other says “That one looks like my old maths teacher”? Then you both laugh hysterically for no reason? Most of us have had that special, meaningless moment. Lubena had just that very moment with her dear best friend, Hanna, and Lubena's son, Christopher. This song started life as a poem dedicated to Hanna, but written for her beloved Christopher. The reason? Christopher passed away beyond the clouds last year. He was 30. It is so very difficult for me to talk about these things in my articles because they’re just so moving and upsetting. So I can’t possibly imagine what Lubena has been going through. And I have seen this dreadful, unfathomable theme several times in the New Artist Spotlight. The good thing is, we are all together. We can help each other. I would imagine that there is little worse than losing a son or daughter, and my heart is with those of you who have endured such a time. Please though, be aware that those in mourning might not want to talk about it or even think about it. I don’t especially like the word, but please be mindful. I simply mention it here because it’s what I do, and it’s kind of my job in this Corner. But good has been born from this tragedy, in the form of song. A song that is anything but “song-form”. At over 6 minutes, it doesn’t have a dull second. Lyrically, it’s all heart. Musically, it’s all soul. And I’m a bit obsessed.

Unlike my April Fool prank, I promise this extraordinary song does actually exist.

Let’s see if we can publicise Cloud Atlas without the need for a space mission.

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