Welcome all to ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐น๐น๐โ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ, 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 ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ผ๐ง๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฉ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ playlists.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง - ๐ฟ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ค๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฏ
Charles speaks of love from a distanceโฆ
Have you ever had a crush on someone? Obvs. Obvs, utts, totes, abs and deffo. Of course you have. Youโre only human, after all. I certainly have, anyway. From my own personal experience, I can only speak from the perspective of a heterosexual male. I would love to say her name was Sophia, but alasโฆ Letโs talk about Sharon. The glint quickly snapped from an eye. The way her hair just falls and bounces in THAT way as she turns around. The perfectly formed nose that wrinkles when amused. That slender, elegant neck forcing oneโs eyes down towards herโฆ collarbone. Proud shoulders that hang from invisible threads, not highly strung but still supported. The sweetest laugh that only I have noticed. An occasional cackle denoting a darker, more intriguing side to this wonder.
Has she noticed me? Does she like me? Does she feel the same? Does she even know I exist? How can I even concentrate when she does that cute little upward inflection at the end of each sentenceโฆ? It is enough to make me tingle, enticing me closer as every line passes my senses like the sweet and heady smoke of incense. She is small enough to be enveloped by my arms, but not too small that I feel I can lose grasp on the situation. Did my heart twice beat or did it skip over another, as she turned towards me? Am I 14 again? What is this feeling all over me? She kisses my cheek and whispers in my ear. Her light breath is enough to send me over the precipice. She likes me! Itโs a miracle that she even found me with her bright eyes, as I linger in the shadows. But to LIKE ME?? I must be, without a doubt, the happiest person in the world. I shouldnโt be allowed to be this happy. Maybe I deserve it? Does anyone deserve this kind of treat? Yes. I do. I have decided. I do.
And so, after much canoodling, we are together at long last. The most perfect couple. Forever! Forever? Little is forever. Is anything forever, save maybe the sky? I have read this page before. But this time itโs different. Itโs clearly different. It must be different. Mustnโt it? Surely. Well, surely not. Within a short while, almost everything that drew me towards her is pushing me away from her. That glint in her eye has turned to a stigmatism in my mind. That elegant neck is so โslenderโ, it is liable to snap! That damned nose wrinkle, it makes me want to punch her in the face every time she looks at me. And that upward inflectionโฆ BOY, does that make me wince and shudder, time after time after time. Whatever she wants to do, I donโt want to do. Whatever I want to do, she is perfectly happy doing. How infuriating is THAT?? You see, she is not driven mad by me. Quite the opposite. She is more and more โin loveโ with me! I mean, sure, I was delighted at first that any girl would give me the time of day, not least THIS one. But things change. People change. Or worse: they DONโT! How I wanted so much for her to be the ONE. But the only one she is, is the one to be avoided. At all costs. And so, I put my foot down and say โenough is enoughโ, slam the door, and leave. She is gone from my life. I have sailed away from that disaster island. Free again, at last. Her weeping is still audible - even THAT is annoying. Weeks pass, and we catch sight of one another. She gives a half-smile and turns away. All my initial feelings are back, but I am aware not to get too close to the flames this time. Oh, but isnโt she just dreamy! That naked neck that needs stroking. I have however learnt the hard way, never to go back. I have learnt to love from a distance, never to bite into that same tempting apple. Look, but donโt touch.
It seems as though Toronto's Dany Horovitz has had similar experiences, feelings or thoughts on this idea, with his latest single born only within the last week - The Scar. A beautiful, sweet song that hides beneath it the darkest, most satisfying lyrical observation. This acoustic tune is simplistic and honied for a reason. Its country-tinged elements come together to wrap you up warm and make you feel cosy, only to surprise you by the chorus with deliciously scathing lines. Dany has evidently put a great deal of time and effort into the recording and mixing of this sour love affair, and not one second or drip of sweat was wasted. The sound is live and rich. I am particularly fond of the full lightness of the snareโs rim click and round saturated bass, not to mention the crispness of the acoustic guitar. One can actually feel the looseness of the kick drum skin. It flops with depth. A subtly scrumptious electric owgan fills in the gaps.
As to Danyโs voice, it is just so REAL! So believable and honest. He wonโt blow you away with Bublรฉ-esque vocal runs or Mercury-esque stamina and power. He will however make you feel involved. In this way he is not unreachable. There is a connection between humble listener and equally humble artist. To me, his voice is similar to Ben Folds on a sleepy day, Paul Simon as he wakes, and Eels singer - Mark Oliver Everett - forever exhausted. But there is something else in Danyโs vocals that isnโt quite present in any of these 3 singers: his warmth and closeness. His particular strain of empathy. But like Paul Simon, Dany is a poet. He makes you think. He makes you think, โWhy didnโt I think of that?โโฆ And the answer is: because youโre not Dany Horovitz. Artists are so often under appreciated, or underrated. I am especially impressed with how he has managed to make what is basically a relatively simple acoustic song, mean so much and hit the heart so instantly, while leaving a smirk on your face. His occasional harmonies enrich what is already there, glossily refreshing the sweetness in the sorrow. Even the final section builds with energy by adding just a few of himself to form a crowd in the background. There is a reassuring 1950s sound about the whole song. That comfort that I have rarely heard past 1962. A simple purity, not afraid to be honest. I am very much looking forward to the official music video that premieres on February 17th.
Dany Horovitz has been with us on the New Artist Spotlight for just 10 weeks. Since joining this unique organisation/group/society/cult/family, he has been a constant supporter of his fellow artists and a thoroughly lovely chap to have on board. I never get tired of praising and writing about my personal favourites on the NAS, but it always means so much more when I know that the artist truly deserves what I have been told is an honour, in appearing on my Corner.
Oh, isnโt Sharon just gorgeous!! But no. There are plenty more birds in the sea.
(I am an artist. I make up stuff. This piece does not necessarily have anything to do with my past or present. Sharon is my own business. My own scar)
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As usual a great review. I'm going straight to give Dany's song a spin, um stream.
I hope Sharon/Sophia/Monica/Rachel have gotten over you. I know, I don't think so either.
I have to echo what others are saying, Charles โ this review, more than any other of yours, makes me want to give the track another listen so that I can hear the things you did. Hard to do much more than that for the artist you are covering. Well done, as always!
I will need to listen to The Scar again to get the whole meaning of his song. I just love reading these reviews Charles is a brilliant writer. Congrats Dany on writing something so personal and not being afraid to sharing it.
Great writing, definitely made me want to give Dany a listen! We all have our scars!
I love this article for many reasons! Thank you Charles for exploring the wounds of the past (we all have them) and capturing the essence of such a brilliant and well crafted song. Love Dannyโs voice and love the track!