I’ve written before about the importance of listening to new music, keeping your mind open to finding likeable tunes by bands you haven’t heard of. I must admit though, I am drawn to songs with an old-school vibe, reminding me of a time I’ve not lived through.
That’s why I love The Murlocs, they style themselves as a band from the mid-70s British pub rock scene. It’s hard to pick a favourite song from their 2023 album Calm Your Farm. Imagine bluesy piano, squealing harmonica, warm bass and dependable guitar with a screechy vocal and many well-placed drum hits. The lyrics are not afraid to venture into social commentary – politics and religion are fair game – beautifully crafted with imagery and plenty of familiar references and turns of phrase.
“Initiative” starts casually, with Kenny-Smith counting us in and we’re hit first with piano and slide guitar playing the chorus melody. The verse describes a relationship on the rocks and how his friends have it all figured out, apparently living the dream with a house and marriage etc.
The chorus brings us to what’s possibly holding our protagonist back:
Scared, scared of commitment
But I’m gonna go for it, show a little initiative
The Murlocs – Initiative
In an interview, Kenny-Smith relates the challenge of being an adult and moving things forward in your life:
It’s about recognising the need to start taking responsibility for your life instead of always living in the now and killing all your brain cells along the way. Not everyone wants the big family and the big house with the white picket fence. Everything happens for a reason and sometimes you need to take things more seriously and make a few power moves in life to find out what comes next in the crystal ball.
Ambrose Kenny-Smith
‘The Murlocs Announce New Album Calm Ya Farm‘
Still Listening Magazine
The song keeps the chords simple, the only real change is in the bridge towards the end of the song. The bridge explores that working so hard can get in the way of decision-making, that and being prone to overthinking. I also feel there’s a sense of running out of time to make things work, while life goes on and leaves us behind.
Maybe you can take some initiative and give Calm Your Farm a little listen.