Geordie Greep (of Black Midi) announces solo album, ‘The New Sound’, introducing the project with the release of the single, ‘Holy, Holy’.
An audacious theatrical tale of late-night escapades, illusions of reality and the fragility of ego – lost in the glamour of intoxication and romance – embracing the shadow, indulging in morally reprehensible tendencies whilst giving entrance to instinct and lust. Creating a scene which flutters, dancing in and around the oneiric and the obscene. Greep maintains the essence all that which musically and lyrically came before, and with those achievements has earned the license to freely explore on his own terms; filled with impulse, ‘Holy, Holy’ is trusting towards a new trajectory.
‘Holy, Holy’ is both lyrically and musically adventurous, encapsulating the very theme which Greep attends with. It is entirely performative. “The main theme of the record is desperation: you don’t hear an unreliable narrator but someone who is kidding themselves that they have everything under control, but they don’t.” Playing joyfully, with a range of musical influences; from noughties indie pop chords to bravura Latin big band arrangements and a plethora of pianos. Greep indulges in multitude of inspirations available to those listening to the city-sounds of Soho to Sao Paulo.
Street-life is the world which Greep seeks to explore and ‘Holy, Holy’ exemplifies this exploration. As our antagonist narrates their tall tales – a man of distinction, beloved and known by all, seducer through soliloquy – or are they? The lyrical manipulation of Greep forces the listener to question the narrative presented, to believe or to feel disdain. “I want you to ask the waiter if I really am who I say I am.” Greep creates this urbane romantic fantasy, embarking on a cautionary commentary on beauty and damnation; harkening back to the literary tradition of Fitzgerald. Is everything as glorious and real as we are encouraged to believe?
Writing this is difficult, it makes you want to listen to the whole album and write about that. More, more and more is wanted. ‘Holy, Holy’ is only the first liaison between listener and Greep; and thankfully the future will hold another. Another chance to get carried away into the experimental consciousness of the music; the singing streets of desire, festivities of fornication; Greep’s colourful imagination.
Photo by Yis Kid
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