Afton Wolfe – Last King of the Blues
There are heroes who get statues in the town square once they no longer have the ability to enjoy their fame. And, then there are heroes who don’t need any fancy plaque telling the world of their achievements.
These latter category of champions live out in the stories that people who witnessed their greatness will tell for as long as they have the voices to do so. These are heroes who exist in folk tales, in remembrances, in retelling of the truth.
There are a million guitar players who plug in and deliver a blues chord progression to you. There are just as many who can solo over that progression. But the real superheroes of the blues played with their audience’s tears, and carved out memories that time will not wash away.
The legend of Clarksdale, MS is alive and well for all those who happened to witness the blues bloom, or the ones who had the dreams planted by recordings. “King of the Blues” by the excellently gruff-sounding singer Afton Wolfe works with the myth and makes it sound like the vocalist is slowly reading a religious text. To many, these stories are nothing less than a spiritual experience. The truth’s out there and it’s written in tears and blues chords. Only a few people, like Afton Wolfe, are chosen to tell the stories of old once again.
Romain Alix – Still here
Yes, the vast majority of us put off the things that make us uncomfortable. But who can blame us? The things that, typically, all of us avoid doing involve a high degree of discomfort and the kind of tension that can ruin your day.
I’m not talking about dieting or exercising. Nah, in the grand scheme of things, those are easy. Rather, I mean to say that it’s difficult to talk about loss, life changes and inevitable adjustments to the things we care most about.
On second thought, maybe the poets and the great songwriters were right. You’d better think about all the things that you care about most right now. And your life might be better off when you consider that you could lose those at any time.
Will considering loss make you appreciate your current life more? It’s a heartbreaking question but one that Romain Alix’s emotional brand of lo-fi folk tries to answer. Alix’s gentle singing is a vehicle through which the songwriter can look back on the world, can spot every important detail and can come to the realisation of just how special it all is. Move one piece away and nothing stays the same. Romain Alix has been brave to venture down here, but the musician is making the effort for all of us. Ignore the perfection of the current moment at your own peril!
