Blindness & Light – Mersey Bell (2024)
“…base-jumping for the soul…” – this is how singer-songwriter Colin M Potter describes songwriting; to be honest, I have to agree. Pouring your heart out onto paper and sealing its cathartic nature with a melody is solace during difficult times. Then again, just as it is therapeutic in its melancholy, it’s also an exuberant burst when celebrating happy moments. Blindness & Light captures the tragedy and triumph in their moving melodies. Already a blip on our radar, well more than a blip, the UK-based collective has intrigued us since 2022’s ‘Another Day’. Join us as delve into their latest single, ‘Mersey Bell’.
An informal collective of like-minded musicians, Blindness & Light rejects formality and embraces individuality as a fabulous foursome in ‘Mersey Bell’. Combining the natural talents of Colin M Potter (vocals and guitar), Helen Reynolds (backing vocals), Glenn Welman (drums), and Paul McConnell (bass), ‘Mersey Light’ slices old-school post-punk with shimmers of indie-rock. Retaining a strong link to 80s post-punk, ‘Mersey Bell’ drags listeners back to the psychedelic waves of The Velvet Underground and Joy Division; however, the sound can still appeal to modern-day audiences despite the retro vibe.
While the crashing drums, bold bass and soaring guitar fuse in melodic harmony, ‘Mersey Bell’ is more than a song as it immerses you in a psychedelic flood of sound. Swirling about in a haze of sonic fog, each chord seeps into your skin lifting your soul, grabbing your breath, and bringing those warm fuzzies into the pit of your stomach.
One intriguing element in ‘Mersey Bell’ is the ringing out of the bell across the melody; however, it is far more than an eclectic bit to the song. Intoxicating sounds align with profound themes as ‘Mersey Bell’ tackles the complexities of loss. Potter explains:
“While walking back from Widnes to Runcorn late one night with the shadow of the death of a close friend hanging over us, we decided to climb up high onto the ramparts of a local railway bridge across the river Mersey. When we reached the top, we discovered a huge shipping bell which I decided to ring out in the middle of the night. It was such a powerful memory… we felt that it was a fitting tribute to Richard.”
Find out more about Blindness & Light on their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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