Be suspicious of musicians who say that they write songs as a way of giving back to the world. While this is marvelously generous, naturally, the world doesn’t need musicians who are so selfless and giving.
No, the world needs artists that are hung up on their own issues, and willing to work on themselves. The world needs songwriters who can only write songs about themselves. These people, from Lennon to Cobain, are the only ones that listeners feel a reall connection. Talk convincingly about your life and you are talking about all of ours.
Bent Joshua has understood this and treats “At Wits’ End,” the artist’s fifth release, as a self-administered therapy session. By slowly revealing his deepest, oftentimes darkest emotions, he manages to say something about the rest of us, too. By trying to, first and foremost, satisfy his creative impulses, Joshua gives the songs the honesty to make them relatable to the general public.
The album opener, “Coffee,” is a well-written song that slowly reveals itself. Starting out with a lo-fi ambient instrumental, Bent monotonously repeats his demand for a cup of coffee to get him over a terrible day. But the monotone vocals slowly morph into something approaching jazz lines, and the repetitive hook develops into a story of longing, boredom, and, finally, despair.
The mood of deep melancholy is maintained with “Open Sea.” The singing is distant. A detuned vocal sample punctuates every line. The lyrics used in the verse tell the story of someone who might as well have reached the end of the tarmac and who can only move forward by plunging themselves into the unforgiving sea.
If you decide to treat “At My Wits’ End,” as a kind of theatre play, know that the performer never breaks character nor disturbs the general mood. “Let You Go” features similar instrumentation as previous tracks and a confession about being stuck in a romantic rut. “You’re Not Around” is a song of loss and grief. And, “Nightmare,” a track reminiscent of horror trap, is just as shadowy as the title might suggest.
The artist’s background as a spoken word artist comes in handy across the song collection in fact. Bent Joshua rarely says a word more than is needed. The songs aren’t longer or more ornate than is required. The artist understands the role of a song format, and although he uses atypical musical elements, the fact is that, all songs tell a story and provide some sort of hook.
Where does this leave us? Well, the experience of listening to the record left this reviewer pleasantly refreshed. Bent Joshua is committed to delivering truthful, if painfully sad at time, confessions. Stepping into someone else’s life like this, even if just for half and hour, felt like a gift, as was the opportunity to leave. Joshua’s words are powerful throughout “At My Wits’ End.”
Social media links
