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.
𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢 - 𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨
Charles takes to the waves of psychedelia.
Last week we discovered Sabrina’s Barreto’s magnificent ‘Colourblind’. This week I can see again in glorious Technicolor! It is time to ditch the comfort and normality of the grey 1950s and shoot forward at terrifying speed, through an era that encompasses the swirling beauty of the 60s, 70s and 80s. I have always had a retro side - many of you may know - but it has subsided a little in recent years for a more level-headed concentration of the sober, sterile modern day. White walls are dull, cold, boring and unimaginative, yet almost every household has them. Clothes are drab, dark and ill-fitting. A hoodie is little more than a thin duvet with sleeves and a string. We do what we do because that’s what we do. There is no thought. No care. No light! People are so self-conscious these days and afraid of not fitting in. Why should one fit in? I enjoy colour. I enjoy art. I love clothes that are different, without purposely being “different”. I admire natural style. I admire a different personality, unless they make me uncomfortable. I am not a sheep. I like people who are not sheep. To me, the opposite of standard normality is, well, the opposite. To be oneself. Let me take you down, ‘cos I’m going to......
My lush velvet top hat is a deep pink, and perches at an angle. The stripes on my slender legs seem to waver and flam with every beat from around the corner. The lights flash not in unison, but neither without balance and symmetry. The colours bounce and blend from blink to blink. My flared shirt cuffs seem to take on the appearance of Mick Jagger’s lips, failing to quite devour my every finger. I flick them aside with a spin that connects me to the bar. Drinks all round! The bar staff have neon visors with a thin backlit wraparound screen stating “Shoes are welcome, but not compulsory”. A skinny tie dangles from each of their wrists. They are effortlessly careful not to get them dunked in booze. The bartenders immediately migrate to each end of the bar - as if there is a hidden conveyor belt under their feet. The bar breaks clean in two, panning far left and far right, to reveal a stage.
Six men take over the evening from now. A blinding neon lightning strike fades to the sound of cool. Flash Seasons are dressed exactly how they want to be. Smart yet alluringly different. I adore the psychedelic ‘feels’ of the 60s, but this is the colourful 80s with tones of how it all started, and a dash of disco. The synth starts us smiling. But soon enough the lights are swirling and the room is pumping with drums, bass and guitars, all drenched in a tight wet reverb. Our singer seduces us with a licking whisper. Although this band loves the sounds of Tame Impala, this sound is much more sexy. It is as if they went swimming with The Black Keys and left the pool a rainbow ripple. Blondie are on the wing, telepathically sending vibes. The room starts to spin and judder. It should be uncomfortable, but if you lose yourself and go with the room rather than trying to hold back, you will find the sensation of levitation. Shoes are very much not needed anymore. This is Delirium, in a good way. Like being dehydrated at a festival - I’m not condoning it, but golly it can be good. How can everyone be wearing my hat at the same time? The hats are dancing in unison!
The feeling is as if I am upheld by fluorescent angels. Cheeky sprites wearing little more than a couple of wings. Flash Seasons take us all the way, and know no bounds. They dig in hard - no airy-fairies in THIS club. They move with liquid ease. Their hair is flung out of place, closely followed by arrows of sweat darting like shooting stars. Pastel plane-trails fill the air above as this Mexican mob makes us breathe in sync with them.
Delirium is a most underrated feeling. It is usually suggested to be something negative. It can be. But in the right situation, it can be the feeling that life should be. Euphoria. Delirium is also a song by a band called Flash Seasons. A song and a band that too are underrated, and are never anything but positive. The angels have carefully placed me back on level ground and my shoes have regained purpose. The bar has closed its halves and is back in business. I wander over to the band to simply feed off their electricity and be back where I belong. The singer tries on my hat. I suggest that he keeps it as it suits him better. The room is caked in their energy. They rise once more to the stage.
Delirium is here at least for the time being. The song however will live on.
Listen to 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Spotify playlist HERE!
Listen to 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢 on the 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 Apple Music playlist HERE!
Follow 𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 on Instagram HERE!
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