Bernardo – Bobby’s Song
Jumping, say, from the “Soul” section of the old-school music store into “Rock” or “Country” used to be more difficult than making the leap past the Berlin Wall or swimming a river through the middle of the night in order to slip under the Iron Curtain.
The record-buying public was assured by the experts that those various styles of music were, essentially, like different languages. Very few could speak more than two, and nearly nobody was an expert in more than one. Best not to take unnecessary chances.
But what was the music about? To the amazement of those who did take on the risk, they found that the songs were usually about the same old mystical things – love, lust, and loss. That remains true for Bernardo.
But thankfully for the experienced and musically adventurous Sonia Bernardo, times have changed, and listeners almost expect musical styles to be blended in clever, innovative ways. That’s precisely what the songwriter does with the sophisticated-sounding “Bobby’s Song.” The theme? Love, lust, loss. Some things change for the better, and others need not change at all.
Birdie Swann Sisters & King Black Acid – Rats In The City
This ain’t the place for quiet relaxation, and certainly not where you go when you want to keep a clear conscience. Living in any of the large cities of the world overwhelms everyone. It’s just that few admit to it.
This is the place where you’ll never be alone, yet, possibly, never make any friends. This is the place where you’ll never have one culture to represent you, but thousands squeezed together. It’s the place where there’s no religion, just countless preachers waving their arms and inviting you inside for a drink.
Artists, like Birdie Swann Sisters & King Black Acid, who want to capture the energy of the modern urban sprawls, need to first make sure that they’re picked up on the glorious confusion of it all, on the never-ending tremor of the city, on the grime and charm.
“Rats In The City” is, essentially, a dreamy, psych-infused dance song about looking out for number one. It’s the song about endless possibilities and innumerable choices. It’s an electric slithering sound that Birdie Swann Sisters & King Black Acid create here, and a reminder of why, from the streets to the back alleys, from the basements to the rooftops, there’s never any shortage of people looking to get their kicks and get themselves lost in the city.
