[ad_1]
Why did the Shifting Stills name this track “Westside”?
Not simply because they’re touring (although, sure: on the time of this typing, the Australian band is wrapping up its “Westside” tour.) Titles are a sort of signpost: they’ll inform you the place to focus in a track.
“Westside” factors to the geography of “distant love.”
The street is plagued by songs addressed to a distant liked one. “Westside” stands out as a result of it doesn’t bemoan the gap. As an alternative, it asserts, “Distant love is a fruitful tree.” One of many track’s first photos is the fruitful abundance of the panorama the singer travels by means of: “there’s a lot fruit round / to gradual my respiratory down.” The “fruitful tree” chorus connects like to panorama.
Love on this track is as massive as a season. “You’re an infinite summer time on the balcony, and a mild breeze if you really feel the necessity.” Summer time will get in below the doorjamb. It will get below your pores and skin. Like love, it adjustments every little thing. On this track, the beloved is gentle and air, a phenomenon who causes “a sense within the room.” Any room: motel, relaxation cease, Australian music venue whereby this track is sung. By not naming the room, the track makes itself relevant to all of them – it makes itself about all of them.
This could possibly be straight autobiography, a track chronicling a “couple good weeks on the east aspect / travelin’ spherical and taking part in exhibits.” That’s what this band is doing proper now.
However why make a love track out of your itinerary?
If we translated this track into the type of a letter, or a collection of textual content messages, it might go one thing like this: “Hey, we’re on the westside now, tour’s going effectively, I’m considering of you.” “Hey once more, now we’re out East, nonetheless going effectively, nonetheless excited about you, simply wished to let you realize loving you makes life really feel good.” This track makes a map between two folks. The gap between them is now not empty area, it’s a measure of their love. Which is huge: it stretches throughout Australia.
“Westside” feels like a variety of Shifting Stills songs, however distinguishes itself by its particulars. One thing like a online game sound impact swirls in simply earlier than the refrain, with out warning or rationalization. Equally out-of-the-blue is the harmonica solo – a stunning lonesome interjection, shortly swept away on the pressing beat.
This sonic playfulness is extra than simply enjoyable for the listener. It’s additionally a storytelling device. The panorama of the track is acquainted: eastside, westside, the balcony, summer time, all painted within the sandy, driving tones The Shifting Stills favor. Then into this panorama marches a harmonica solo. The place’d that come from? Straight out of the summer time sky. This track takes place in a world by which a sound can present up for no cause apart from to thrill.
[ad_2]