COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers writes for the Observer.
Shiloh Clarke’s new single ‘A Million Things’
Coventry born reggae stalwart Shiloh Clarke has a new single ‘A Million Things’.
Co-written with musician and songwriter Leigh Malin who is also from Coventry.
Grammy award-winning producer Roger Lomas has sprinkled his magic into the mix too by giving the song the most powerful of openings.
Together with guitar solo by Neol Davies and vocal improvisation by Sofia Jones, it makes for an epic.
Shiloh ‘doesn’t do good or okay’ – this one is another cracker of a single which follows in the great tradition of Coventry 2-Tone.
Shiloh said: “The song is about how no one is perfect and there are things about themselves in their past that they might change if they could.
“The same can be said of the human race (dwelling in the past).
“We are wasting precious time competing when we should be acting as one.
“A Million Things calls to seize the moment.
“It also calls to those who understand that change always begins today and tomorrow never comes.”
The single also includes many legends from the Two Tone movement – Shiloh Clarke: lead vocal/rhythm guitar, Sofia Jones: backing vocals, Neol Davies (Selecter) lead guitar, Aitch Bembridge: (Selecter) drums, John Morgan (CSB): steel drum/lead pan, Horace Panter (Specials): bass guitar, Tony Mullings (UB40): keyboards, Leigh Malin: sax, Paul Daleman: trumpet, Steve Holdway: trombone.
Shiloh’s last single ‘Freedom Will Reign’ has had more than 1.5million streams/views on Spotify and YouTube.
Shiloh goes on to say: “The song is a plea to the people to do something about the threat of climate change and was backed by Extinction Rebellion.
“This important message continues to gather momentum.
“Thanks to Scott Birley, Geri Perry and Brian Wade (GB Music Team).
“A huge thank you to both Music Declares and Extinction Rebellion for their continued efforts to save our planet.”
King of the Alps, Heart of the Matter
You can always expect something a little different from King of The Alps and this new CD definitely does not disappoint.
The trio – Paul Ingram, Simon Ward and Sally Laws – make a sound which is not easy to define.
There is an undeniable folk edge to the mix, but KOTA are much more than that – World Music often comes to mind, maybe jazzy even indie, until you are swept away on a wave of phase and the soundscape has tinges of the psychedelic to it.
As I said not easy to define, so why bother, just enjoy all the sounds and styles on this cracking CD.
I caught up with the guys at Godiva and the songs work in a live context too – no mean feat as the musical layering on their tracks are never that simple.
The overall feel of the CD is a somewhat Chill Out vibe, but the lyrics are pretty dark and often deal with our own mortality.
My fave tracks include the delicious “Forever”, “Time to Make A Change”, “Everything to Me” and the superb “The Darkness of Greed” while “Goodbye” is a tour de force.
