Familiarity is said to breed contempt, but a lot of things get said, and then along come people like Cleo Sol, tearing up books of sayings and leaving the bits floating in the air like confetti. Nobody’s popped up in this blog more than she has. First it was with Little Simz, giving Woman a soaring arc of breezy triumph, then it was on Sault’s London Gangs, where she harboured her soulful instincts in favour of restrained and punchy impact. With both those tracks contenders for single of the year, it’s got be worth checking out the solo Sol gear too.
And here we are. Try not to fall off your chair when you get the news that this track is really, really good. 23 has enough deep psyche and irresistible orchestration to put it in up with Rotary Connection or Earth, Wind and Fire, the intro has a distinct air of Curtis Mayfield’s dreamy side, and Cleo Sol’s vocals have the sweet, satisfying lilt to sit happily on top. A smooth gift, on a lush bright cushion. This is proper soul.
23 is taken from an album, Mother, which is explicit in dealing with motherhood from both angles. Little Simz’ single I Love You, I Hate You was a deep, brave dig into the impact of her father and his actions, and there’s a similar pattern at work here. A reconciliation of resentments and admiration, of adult revelations clanging with childhood confusion, affection vying with distress. Mums have flaws, let’s face up to it.
Buried secrets deep, now they overflow Crystal clear to me, God, let it be Pass the burden on Sweep the troubled life Drink the hurt away I know the pain
I don’t remember parents coming up much as a topic when I was a young, or even youngish, music fan. There was that one about daddy being a bank robber but that was more like wish-fulfilment rolled up with an anarchist comic book as fag paper. Which is fine, obviously, but it’s not exactly revealing. Is it possible that young people these days are more mature and curious about, gulp, feelings? Or maybe I should have listened to more soul, where frank exploration of stuff – money, sex, shopping, family – is the norm. Either way, hats off to Cleo Sol. If you’re going to sing about mums, you should do it like this, brilliantly.
THIS WEEK
Cleo Sol – 23
36,663 views since 19th August Weekly Average Views – 7,333
LAST WEEK
!!! – Fast Car
Weekly Average Views – 616 Blog Week Views – 204
EXTRAS
Sault – London Gangs
Little Simz – Woman
The Clash – Bank Robber