Artist......: Christian Burns
Album.......: Love Songs From Suburbia
Source......: CD
Label.......: Black Hole Recordings
Cat.No......: BHCD218
Genre.......: House
Tracks......: 12
Bitrate.....: 940 kbps avg
Playtime....: 00:50:09 (354.MB)
Rls date....: 2021-06-26
Store date..: 2021-00-00
Encoder.....: FLAC 1.3.1
01 Christian Burns - Tigers 4:39
02 Christian Burns - Any Love 4:13
03 Christian Burns - Eyes Wide Open 3:36
04 Christian Burns - Honour 3:29
05 Christian Burns - The Magic 3:45
06 Christian Burns - Truth 4:35
07 Christian Burns - Friendly Fire 5:08
08 Christian Burns - Alive 3:47
09 Christian Burns - The Hands That Matter 3:58
10 Christian Burns with M.O.S. - Now or Never 4:32
11 Christian Burns - Breathing Fire 3:46
12 Christian Burns - Everywhere 4:41
ôHopeö, says Christian Burns - ôif thereÆs one word that sums this album
up, thatÆd be itö. Now if this sounds unduly upbeat given our times,
bear-with - the context will become much clearer. The story of æLove Songs
From SuburbiaÆ (for there clearly is one) begins in Los Angeles in April of
2020. DonÆt get too comfy there though - in 48hrs, itÆs going to be eight
timezones away.
This album was spurred by not one, but two sizeable occurrences. One was
global (no prizes) and the second, about as personal as they come. For the
first time in decades, long-time LA resident Christian suddenly and
unexpectedly felt far from home. With a real sense of the way the West
Coast winds were blowing, last April he hopped a flight back to the
familial north of England. Adding extra impetus to the international
situation was the recent demise of his long-term relationship. So leaving
behind house, studio, car and everything else non-suitcase-sized, he landed
back in his native Greater Manchester.
Writing his second artist album (the long deferred follow up to 2013Æs
æSimple Modern AnswersÆ) couldnÆt have been further from the plan, simply
as there wasnÆt one. Without a permanent base in the county, a returning
Christian took refuge under his sisterÆs roof. Within a matter of days,
creatively - and by his own admission unexpectedly - something began to
stir. Setting up a makeshift studio in a vacant building in the middle of a
field on his siblingÆs property he began to writeà and out came æLove Songs
From SuburbiaÆ.
Emotion - it probably goes without saying - is baked into the album.
Notable though, only by their complete absence, are tones of gloom,
pessimism or reproach. And when you consider the primary drivers behind
æLove SongsÆ, thatÆs quite remarkable. In their place sit vibes of
wistfulness and quiet acceptance. Less æwhatÆs happenedÆ and more æwhatÆs
to comeÆ, all bound up in - that word again - ôhopeö.
While the temptation might be there, donÆt look at æLove SongÆs track
titles (twelve in total) anticipating a chapter-like overview of
ChristianÆs inspirations. Poker-faced, from æTigersÆ or æHonourÆ at the
frontend to æThe Hands That MatterÆ or æEverywhereÆ at the back, thereÆs
not one title that allows conclusions. ItÆs within the albumÆs verses and
choruses that ChristianÆs meanings lie, some just below the surface, others
core deep. As the mind translates them, a journey takes place and æLove
SongsÆ figurations become clear.
First listens to ChristianÆs second album will likely leave the impression
that itÆs musical elements are there solely as a passive bit-part players.
The feet move, the ears prick, but your focus rarely traffics from
ChristianÆs absorbing-to-mesmerizing songs, refrains and harmonies. A
testament to their stunning tact though, over time those elements begin to
pop more to the fore, and with them the realisation of just what kind of
extraordinary balancing act æLove SongsÆ is pulling off.
A wistful, blissful, sun-on-your-face-styled feel - æCafΘ del Mar with
beatsÆ perhaps - it carries its tone innately first track through last.
ItÆs an album with nothing to prove other than art-of-lyric, authenticity
of voice and depth-of-meaning always wins through.