𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: The Game - Lunar Plexus

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 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚 - 𝙇𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙧 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙨

Charles plays a game…

This weekly thing of mine. You all witness it, but only in its finished form. None of you ever sees the process. It’s possible that many of you barely register there being a process of any kind. A bit like how my father never imagined Beatles songs actually being crafted and put together in the studio by his heroes playing instruments, manually and laboriously, take after take; rather that the songs simply came to exist. I don’t just tap the “make review” button, then tap the “post” button. If only. But “if only”? Would I really like that? Where’s the fun in that? Sure, it would certainly give me a lot more time to work, and not keep artists/clients waiting (I’m a producer/make-things-sound-gooderer, just in case you wondered), and it certainly would be nice not to have that persistent weekly pressure on my shoulders… But then again, isn’t this all part of what has turned it into a “thing”; like a PROPER thing? My little Corner has apparently become something special. Which makes me rather proud, I must admit. However, I see the column differently to you. For me it’s a weekly challenge, and one that I relish. It’s not an obstacle or a chore to be completed. The fun is in the process, but the outcome is just as important. But fun doesn’t mean lack of effort; hell no. The effort is what makes it enjoyable, both in the giving and the receiving. Basically, much like Solitaire, it’s a game I play by myself. By the way, did you spot all 11 card games in last week’s article (12 if you include Tarot)? That in itself was a game you probably weren’t even aware was being played!

We all liked playing games as a child. When did we stop enjoying games? DID we ever stop? Perhaps the games have simply changed… And no, I don’t mean that they have “progressed” from board games to computer games. That ain’t the games I mean, you literal person. I mean that we set ourselves challenges as adults. Admittedly the outcome of these rather more mature games matters a little more, but we continue to play the game. Everybody, play the game (thank you, Queen). You set yourself the target of securing that dream job you’ve always wanted. You set yourself the challenge of popping out as many babies as possible in a single decade. You attempt to finally finish that album (I believe in you). You attempt to finally start that novel (it’ll never happen). You attempt to wear a red hoodie without looking like a teenager (you fail). You see if you can pull off the colour beige without looking like your grandfather (you fail). Each challenge is a game of sorts, and we ALL do it. But let’s look at music and see where these challenges lie. There has been so much about HAL (A.I.) being a “timesaver”, with the CEO of Suno (one of the leading HAL "music" companies) telling us that no musicians actually ENJOY the process of making music… Erm…….. Where on Earth did he get THAT idea???!!! You see, if you start thinking like this, then what is the point of anything? Is it worth bothering if there’s a little work and effort involved…? The answer - emphatically - is yes. The making of the music is very much the game. It is exactly what gives you the satisfaction. Building your own table from scratch is far more satisfying than buying one from Ikea. Okay, bad example: the satisfaction you hold (not to mention the broken back you hold) from having completed the puzzle that is an Ikea flat-pack table, is probably leagues ahead of most in life. But you get the gist. The process is everything.

But what THEN? Say you’ve strived to achieve, and you genuinely feel you pulled it off? What have you to show for it? This was where I stood a couple of months ago. The challenge was my album. I put everything I could into those 47 minutes of music. The end result is something of which I am very proud. The best thing I have ever done, in fact. But does anything say it is actually thought to be really good? It’s all so insular, like that game of Solitaire. Sure, I’ve had the most beautiful comments over the course of its release, but nothing sort of concrete. Nothing set in stone. And what about my mixing and production? Well, I have always had happy clients. But there was nothing official of any kind. No sort of certificate or anything. I’ve had some great reviews… But again, nothing sort of stating “He’s really good: pick him”… And so, I set myself yet another challenge; a game, if you will. For the first time, I put myself forward for a few awards (tap to watch my little video). Having never done this sort of thing before, I was a little apprehensive and confused by the process. This was to be for the ISSA Awards; ISSA being the International Singer Songwriter Association. Once all was in place, I realised I was going to have a very busy month of April. Yet another game to play. But this is NOT one I am playing on my lonesome. Aside from all the other nominees, there is a bunch of NASian artists in the running, and in true NAS form, I wanted to rally the troops to see if we’ve got what it takes. Every morning since April 2nd, I have got into the routine of voting both forms, all NAS artists (and one or two others), then designing and sharing a story for Instagram; plus all the other usual morning duties. The thing is, I haven’t really been sure if anyone is seeing any of this. Hence coming to you somewhat directly. I am fully aware of the cheek of using my platform to advertise, but I don’t want you just to vote for me. I wish for you to vote for ALL the NAS nominees. On the International side, these include myself, Marianne Vedder, Marcus Magnusson, Roberta Scimè, and Stefani Kleppe (also Synthetik Blonde). On the American side, these include just Chris Buchanan (also Copperstone) and Rich Allen. The great thing about this particular contest, is that you can choose multiple artists/choices per category, so you don’t have to worry about choosing one over another. You can choose them all! The bad news is, it’s a daily vote. This must be done daily. The good news is, there’s only around one week left of voting! So let’s really give it one final daily push! Then you can all relax and do whatever it is that you usually do in those minutes you might have lost. It would mean a huge deal to me and all of the other nominees, if you can vote daily for the remainder of the contest. If you’re feeling especially kind and supportive, you can even vote on multiple devices per day! Wouldn’t it be lovely for goodness to be official? The two voting forms are linked below, along with the usual links.

I never want to annoy people. I’m maybe a bit too nice and polite for success. I’m just not pushy enough. I know how irritating it can be to be poked and prodded regularly. But stepping back and being silent about it just doesn’t help me and my career. So here I am, making a rare “help me” move (whilst simultaneously helping others - my justification). Apologies for being so out of character.

Enough about me and the nominees. Let’s move on back to fun and games! So when doing my weekly trawl, I found good stuff. But I couldn’t help but feel I had missed something a while back. Something perhaps special in a different way. Not so much overlooked, but possibly thrown to the back of the to-do list. And so I looked at my notes from previous weeks. Yes, I make notes every single week; lots of them. Eventually, I found it. This week’s pick was released exactly 2 months ago. Let’s talk about Lunar Plexus! For a start, they ain’t so much a band as a duo. John Saddler and Reuben Ayres are from Devon (that’s in England). They’ve been in various bands (both separately and together) since the 70s, which is before I was born. It’s not often I feel young these days. Ach, sorry boys - I now realise this will make you feel even older. Just pretend I never said that. You sound young on record, so that’s what matters. In this fine duo, musical roles are shared between them. John handles the writing and the singing. Reuben, on the other hand, manages the bass, drums, recording and mixing. They both take care of the guitars, keyboards and production. The share of everything is satisfyingly measured, and frankly how a duo should be; otherwise the one doing all the “work” might start to resent the other, while the other just flits in “to do their bit”. Although Lunar Plexus has been a member of the NAS for around 20 months, this is their first appearance in my Corner. I’m always delighted to have new blood: it’s like a transfusion without the mess. And now I sound positively vampiric. Their latest gift to us all, is The Game.

The guitar intro was what instantly drew me in. Despite being made from just two major chords, it was not a gleeful in the slightest. But neither was it sad. The whole song seems to have a very pensive quality; a sort of “let me just take all this in” kind of vibe. There’s no finalised conclusion, which I suppose is a lot like life: “let’s just see what happens, shall we?”. But at the same time, it is also quite forthright, like a man drawing from indisputable experience. Yet the warmth of the guitars and bass gives the feeling of a seatbelt: it’s gonh’ be a bumpy ride, but “we got you”. There’s reassurance from the two men who’ve done this all before, many times. Being in safe hands, I continued listening, willingly. The verse veers into sadness, and it’s the beginning of something brilliant. There’s a Latin accent here, but not in the vocals. Instant interest with every chord, showing their true musicality. Every part of this song flows as easily and simply as modern pop, yet very little of the song is easy or simple. You see, this song manages something that almost all modern pop fails to even attempt. Key changes. And this particular release is a whole GAME of key changes! It’s just so clever, but unless it’s pointed out, it’s very easy to miss. It is perhaps even disguised too well! But I don’t think so. Why point out the brilliance when you can be cool about it? The whole song builds so naturally as if it was handed to them by the Easter Bunny (sorry, still getting over the weekend). It doesn’t sound like there has been a process. It sounds like it was simply released. How nice is THAT??

And it was all of this that made me wonder what it was that I loved so much about this song… The production is great. And I certainly can’t fault the playing. I am normally so obsessed with sound and production these days; often pointing out the subtlest vocal intonation, reverb tail, or crack of a snare drum, that I sometimes miss the street for the houses. I didn’t grow up producing and mixing songs. I grew up listening to them! And I was not concentrating on the subtleties. I was singing the melodies and learning how to play the chords on the guitar. Hands up, who had The Beatles Songbook as a child…? I know: almost all of you. But what was my next step? Mixing?? Of COURSE not! I didn’t even know what a mix WAS! I loved all these classic songs. I wanted to make songs as good as those. So picked up the guitar and started producing. No, I did NOT. I started WRITING! And in hearing The Game, the songwriter in me awoke! I realised it was the SONG that grabbed me. Everything else is Three of a Kind (really good), but the song itself is a Royal Flush (despite how it sounds, that’s the best). Sorry, I’m not only still getting over Easter but also getting over all those card games from last week. For me, the song is not only the ace, but the King among musical practices. And I can occasionally forget the whole purpose of the artist’s initial point: the song. Then ON this song, can lay the production, playing and mixing. But then there’s the singing. As The Game continues, it becomes triumphant; not just in music and words, but in vocal urgency. John brings out the big guns. And speaking of words, here’s a line plucked at random from within: “Led on; taken in. Beguiled by flattery and spin”… People just don’t write lyrics like this anymore. It’s so refreshing and genuinely interesting!

And speaking of “spin”, give it one. No, give it many. Pretend The Game is one of those games with a Twister spinner.

While you’re busy voting, I’m going to see if I can pull off beige.

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