Hallucinophonics – Existencial Dread
The greatest salesmen and the marketing geniuses of the world could’ve easily turned out to be fantastic professionals in the field of psychology. What they do well is not the result of chance or repetition. It’s a direct result of knowing precisely what they need to sell, how they need to do it, and, especially, who’s going to be the target audience.
And while modern musicians, without a doubt, must explore artistic possibilities and revel in the fact that they’re taking part in the creative act, they also improve their chances of success when they consider their audience’s expectations.
Those expectations don’t merely refer to the subject matter of the songs or the presentation. Knowing what musical buttons to push, something that only experts can attempt to do, can prove the winning ticket.
Hallucinophonics’ “Existencial Dread” is a short, hooky single. It has good commercial potential. But the reason for this is that from the chord progression, the change in tempo, the shift from an almost 60s-esque melody in the verse to the rousing, minor key chorus, Hallucinophonics know just what musical cues to hit in order to push the right emotional button. This is a song about the weight of modern life, and it’s sold well to contemporary audiences.
Kaneb Andrews – I DON’T WANNA TALK TO GOD
Moods and feelings change all the time, and nowhere are those changes felt to a greater degree than in pop music. What was cutting-edge once is old news a few years later. What used to trouble parents decades ago makes kids of today want to laugh.
But, I have to say that the loss of spiritual songs, and love ballads, both of which aren’t the big players in the charts that they used to be, has not been quite the wonderful gift that many of us expected.
With so few having so little to be passionately singing about, people like Kaneb Andrews remain a real exception. And while songs about dancing, drinking and having sex are fun, they’re just as easy to forget as the night before at the club.
On the other hand, Kaneb Andrews’ “I Don’t Wanna Talk to God” is something of a blend of spiritual hymns and love ballads, one in which Andrews finds himself down on his knees. But, as he points out in the chorus, it’s no guidance from above that he’s looking for, but love given here and now. The singing is really good, and the retro-styled production makes this a contender for your “Autumn at Home” playlist. Cosy up to it!
