“Recover” by Douglas First – A Song Feature

 

     Douglas First is an Indie Rock Band based in Berlin, Germany. The band is made up of French singer and guitarist Fabien, Turkish bassist Selim, German drummer Marcel, and French guitarist Julien. In June 2022, the band released the EP “Solar.”

          “Recover” by Douglas First

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglasfirstmusic/
Bandcamp: https://douglasfirstmusic.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Recover” by Douglas First
How could I get to this point in my mind?
I wish I realize it on time
From the dust I'll figure out a way
The burning ashes show, it's not away
 
It's not too late
It's not too late
It's not too late
Never too late
It's not too late
It's not too late
It's not too late
Don't let it fade away
 
I don't want to recover from you
I'd better feel my blood and get hurt
I don't want to recover from you
You'd better prepare yourself for a long stay
 
How could I get to this point in my mind
I wish I realize it on time
From the dust I'll figure out a way
The burning ashes show, it's not away

“Sticky Rice” by Irish Basement - A Song Feature

 

          Irish Basement is geographically misdescriptive, since the band is based in Washington, D.C. Irish Basement is the solo project of writer and producer Mike Toohey. The website identifies the genre of Irish Basement as Modern Post-punk Gothic Rock. That label does not fit “Sticky Rice,” so the music of Irish Basement is not pigeon holed.
 
      “Sticky Rice” by Irish Basement

 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072632286200
Website: https://www.irishbasement.com/
Bandcamp: https://irishbasement.bandcamp.com/music
 
Lyrics of “Sticky Rice” by Irish Basement
Thursday morning
Walking H Street in the rain
When you occupy my brain
Without warning
 
We had a bite at Sticky Rice
Smokin' a cig in city lights
Hide and go seek with our feelings
You left me weak
And I'm still healing
 
Habit forming
Still addicted to your perfume
And the laundry list of issues
I'm ignoring
Fire burning
 
We had a bite at Sticky Rice
Little Miss Whiskey's DJ night
Hide and go seek with our feelings
You look so happy
And I'm still healing
 
We'd watch a couple TV shows
Get underneath each other's clothes
That was back then
Things are different
And that's ok
I just kinda miss it
A lot
 
We had a bite at Sticky Rice
Smokin' a cig in city lights
That was back then
Things are different
And that's ok
I just kinda miss it
 
That was back then
Things are different
And that's ok
I just kinda miss you
 
That was back then
Things are different
And that's ok
But I kinda miss it
 
That was back then
Things are different
And that's ok
I just kinda miss it

“Welcome to The Deep End” by R.D. Thomas – A Song Feature

 

      With the release of his debut album, “What Circus Is This?,” R.D. Thomas talks about the lyrics being the most important aspect of the record. He says, “The music - even the voice - is just a vehicle for the words.” We respect that assessment for the album as a whole and for ten of its eleven tracks. The exception is “Welcome to The Deep End.” The verses are intelligent and insightful, while the chorus is inviting. But the song’s strengths are in its instrumentation and in its diversities with respect to both intensity and lushness.
 
     “Welcome to The Deep End” accommodates appreciation from several vantage points. The best is with an ear “focused” on the kick drum. This largest member of most drum kits brings increased appreciation for the other contributions to the single from R.D. Thomas. The kick drum enters after 13 seconds in the form of a heartbeat having the “lub-dub” sound that is typical of each cardiac cycle. In this case, the “lub-dub” heartbeat occurs every 3 seconds, starting when the lyrics refer to “heart” and continuing until “Welcome to The Deep End” shifts to a clear, clean guitar and a steady beat kick drum (at 0:37). It’s at that time that the voice of R.D. Thomas maximizes its enchantment, with the reiterative, optimistic chorus.
 
     The kick drum also performs an important role during a crescendo that begins building at 2:05 and delivers the listener to arguably the highpoint of “Welcome to The Deep End.” At 2:30, a guitar screams into the mix with a sound that almost mimics that of a small horn section. It is at this time that the song is most lush and energetic.
 
      R.D. Thomas is from Cornwall, UK, but now lives in London. He began his career as a touring multi-instrumentalist for Ben Howard and Paolo Nutini, as well as frontman for alt/folk outfit Brother & Bones. He is now venturing out on a solo career. The credits for “Welcome to The Deep End” note that Thomas contributed acoustic guitars, electric guitar, bass, vocals, percussion, OP1.
 
     Thomas explains that the album, “What Circus Is This?,” is about “changing my process. I am often guilty of over-analysing, deliberating, and dismantling. I wanted to change that; and to more distinctly separate the writing process from the production process. To work more instinctively, and to discover the finish line for the music more decisively.”  
 

     “Welcome to The Deep End” by R.D. Thomas (We thank Jasmine (Jazz) Hodge at Kartel Music Group for the opportunity for advanced listening.)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r_d_thomas/
Website: https://www.allthingsrdthomas.com/
Bandcamp: https://rdthomas.bandcamp.com/album/what-circus-is-this

Lyrics of “Welcome to The Deep End” by R.D. Thomas
Maybe that's a heart string
Pull it like you mean it
Maybe you're a natural puppeteer
Ready while the curtain's creeping up
 
Cover up the meanings
Easier than breathing out
All those lonely years
Just round the corner, coming up
 
You know I can do better than that
You know I can do better than that
I can do better than that
[Repeated]
 
They say it’s a weakness
Everybody’s been there
Everybody breaks somewhere along
Keep hearing how the best still come undone
 
But can you keep a secret
I can build a fortress
Everybody saying it will never be done
But everybody ain’t me, where I’m from
 
You know I can do better than that
You know I can do better than that
I can do better than that
[Repeated]
 
Welcome to the deep end
Waving at the lighthouse
Guess it’s where the past keeps ending up
Well hell if I’d have known, oh well, good luck
Well hell if I’d have known, oh well, good luck
Well hell if I’d have known, oh well, good luck
 
You know I can do better than that
You know I can do better than that
I can do better than that
[Repeated]