Carol Hodge - Vertiginous Drops (2023) [FLAC] {Midnight Stamp Records MID003CD}
Release Info:
RLSDATE: 2023/06/17 RTLDATE: 2023/03/10
GENRE: Rock SiZE: 631 MB
SOURCE: CD RUNTiME: 41:29/40:58
RELEASE: Midnight Stamp Records MID003CD
ORiGiN: UK ENCODER: FLAC 1.42
MATRiX: 83988
with log/cue/nfo/m3u/sfv/300 dpi scans.
MaximumVolumeMusic (dot) com adds. . .
I saw something on Twitter the other day that made me laugh. "Stop
worrying what other people think", it said. "Have you seen other
people? They're awful."
Of course, like all jokes there's an element of truth contained
therein. And anyone who's had any form of counselling for anxiety
knows that you can't stop worrying what others think.
To that end, I've met Carol Hodge once. She was playing keyboards for
Ryan Hamilton at a venue that is particularly difficult for people that
can't walk very well. I was on my own and coming down the stairs on my
arse after the show. Carol saw this, asked me if I was alright, and
took my sticks down to the bottom for me. It was a lovely thing to do
and I was/am grateful to her. It is exactly the reason I hate going to
the place. It's embarrassing, and I get myself worked up in case
others think I can't manage. I can't, but...
The reason for telling the world this? Well, take a listen to
"Vertiginous Drops" and see if you agree that Carol Hodge might
understand.
Not only is there a song on here called "Never Run Out Of Things To
Worry About", an electro, post-punk, almost dancefloor ready thing that
reasons "I have no doubt, that I'll never run out of things to worry
about", but the personal is infused all the way through these ten
songs. It always is with Hodge's works. It’s what makes her albums so
good.
Her background is in punk rock (she's Steve Ignorant's keyboard player
and collaborator and toured with Crass), but her solo stuff is full of
lush pop music like "Best Will In The World" on which she bares her
soul, offering "there's always time to work nine to nine before 40
years of your plan b" as a rallying call - perhaps to herself - to make
things happen.
It's a varied record, this one, the superb "The Price" sees Ginger
Wildheart guest and a hook that explodes. It’s immediately followed up
with the gloriously melancholy, yet somehow stoic piano of "Grayson
(Things Always Could Be Worse)" – a total change of tone, yet somehow
still totally in keeping.
Chris Catalyst is on "Clean The Slate" (the title of the record comes
from one of its lines) which has a choral opening, and the longest
song here "Giving It Up Now" has the words: "one thing's for sure, I
am not sure anymore". That being said, musically, it and the wider
album, sound totally certain. Working with Dave Draper - responsible
for most of the cool music released in Britain these days it seems -
has given this an incredible depth, almost prog in places (and I know
I shouldn't say those words to a punk!).
"Oh, Amanda!" is an interesting one. Tinkling away like it belongs on
a film soundtrack, it's an expression of disappointment in a hero. No
idea who, it's probably not Amanda Holden, but when you were a kid and
your mum said: "I am not angry I am just disappointed, there was
nothing worse, so Amanda, take that!
In fact, Hodge is settling scores all over the shop, here. "Bitch,
Don't Take My Serenity" is angry - and I've a fair idea it might be at
herself - but its also a vehicle for her wonderful voice. Many of them
could be in musicals. They've got that depth and "Wrong Side Of The
Glass" shows that better than anything else does here. Kavus Torabi
(Knifeworld/Cardiacs) underlines that perfectly, as does "Silhouettes".
In many ways it brings the curtain down in somewhat fragile fashion,
but its very much a message of empowerment and hope.
Maybe Carol Hodge wrote all this to remind herself rather than anything
else, but "Vertiginous Drops" will resonate loud and clear with many.
And even if the lyrics mean nothing to you, then to listen to the
record - and its one you need to live with for a while, there's nothing
ephemeral and instant here, the way music used to be before it was
just another app on a phone - then to listen to it, is to listen to one
of the most innovative solo artists around right now.
Ripper's Notes:
Two CD Limited Edition (Limited to 100 copies). Disc 2 is the same
track listing as disc 1, but Carol solo, no guests, primarily keyboard
and vocals.
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Your friendly neighborhood Zoloft
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