"mewithoutYou"

It was always going to be written at some point, why not now.
While I wrote about "Right Away, Great Captain" I listened to his music. I presumed that would be a trend that followed, rather strangely I find myself listening to "Bat For Lashes" while I write this, that will no dout be reflected.

mewithoutYou for me is all about letting go of attatchments. Those things that weigh heavy on us, and maybe at first they brought us joy, but in the end turned sour and all the while we hold on tight in the hope of reviving what was once. mewithoutYou's message is very simple, let go of everything that isn't G-d. There's a freedom in that to enjoy the things of this earth, we're no longer tied to them, but we can enjoy them while being free of their control, but most of all we're free to walk with G-d. The bible said he who wants to gain life must first lose it, this death can be painful and difficult, but it can also shape us and set us up to be who we're meant to be. Right now I'm trying to let go of people, I seem to rely on them, and when I'm cut off from them I feel lonely. So I'm cut off, not entirely of my own choice, but I think I see what G-d's doing. I've had a sore throat the last few days and haven't been attending work or social events, the first day was ok but today has been hard, but hopefully I'll grow through it.

This isn't about mewithoutYou atall, never mind, I guess I'll write about them another time after all.

Right Away, Great Captain

It's strange how things get away from you, the planned regular posts in here was an idea and plan lost to the busyness of day to day life, but I'm back on here and will waste no more time, write I will.

My first exposure to Andy Hull was through Manchester Orchestra. One of my favourite bands Anathallo was supporting them at the Bodega Social Club. I thought in preperation I better check out the headlining act, what a pleasant suprise I was in for. They had me immediately, the music filled the room, changed the air, influenced the atmosphere. It left a dwelling mood for Andy to speak over and what a craftsman of the word he is, though he sings with such feeling that you could have no idea what he was talking about and still empaphise with him.
This is something he deffinitely carries through into his solo project - Right Away, Great Captain. Right Away, Great Captain is a musical project based around a story, a story fiction in of itself but I feel probably closely attatched to feelings and experiences Andy Hull has sitting inside him, this is his way to express them. I don't know if he feels any better from it, but he drags you right into the sadness with him, and yet leaving you thinking there's no place you'd rather be. The story is one of a sailor who finds his wife in an affair with his brother. It challenges many different feelings but it's this issue of travel and distance that interests me most. There's a sadness in distance, a solemn loneliness and yet the thought of leaving enters my mind every day, on the day I eventually do I feel Right Away, Great Captain would make the perfect soundtrack.

What is this?

I've been writing my "hope is but a fading dream" blog for years now without much consistency or flow so the birth of a new blog with an alternative motive seems strange. But this blog is created with a more specific purpose in mind, rather than random at times introspective ramblings this blog has reason and structure. I can't promise that will mean it will make more sense but not much does inside my mind.

So the purpose. I hear so much music that I love, I'm sure you do too, but when a riff smacks me in the face and leaves me stunned on the ground or a melody picks me up and carries me off to a place beyond what I believe music could do, to have this experience never seems quite enough. I want to share it with others. In the passing speed of day to day conversation I never seem to find the right words to express why I love so much the band that has just been brought up, but on here I can think things through more, choose my words more carefully, and that's what I intend to do.

This I hope is not just another review blog. You will find thousands of sites on here telling you about bands, their albums, their news etc. I want to share far more personal experiences than that with you, how the music effected me, how it spoke to me and why it's so precious to me. This has purpose in 2 ways, one, it's mine and no one else can tell you about it, secondly I am not telling you how you should look at the music, not forcing preconcieved ideas of interpretation on you, just sharing what it has the power to do, in the hope that you will lend an ear and more to it, allowing your own experiences to be born.

I intend to do one review a week, time and life permitting.
Hopefully first tomorrow.
Keep well.
Peace
Josh