It is somehow paradoxical in the most beautiful way that a band that is spread across continents writes songs about loneliness and isolation and Blindness & Light is no exception, with their song Your Solitude being a perfect example. This rag-tag ensemble of post-punkers, spanning Anglesey to Yorkshire and beyond to Japan and Argentina, have created something both personal and epic– a song that resonates with anyone who has ever felt the walls of their own unwillingness to make contact with the world around them.
The vocal performance by Colin M Potter has the gravity of sincere understanding, and his voice is wound through the themes of freedom and societal oppression in a way that does not seem condescending. The feeling is real and it is not only in the story of the song but also in the philosophy of the band itself of creative freedom- they have obviously found their voice by not fitting into traditional band formations.
The instrumentation is where the song called “Your Solitude” really excels. The bass lines of Melisa Dopazo are hypnotic and give the song a solid foundation, the drumming of Glenn Welman is slack and relaxing, yet keeps the listeners interested. The airy guitars create that balance between the refined and the rough that is a trademark of great post-punk, drawing on the legacy of The Velvet Underground as well as the late 80s indie scene in Manchester.
The supporting vocals of Helen Reynolds are important in providing the necessary texture and the moments of clarity that are formed as a result of the dreamy feeling of the song. This song, which is number five on the album I Dreamt I Had Insomnia is produced by the band itself , and the assuredness and intent behind it are clear; you can almost hear the artistic renaissance in each of its carefully placed parts. Your Solitude is moving as it gives hope with its sadness. It is not a wallowing in loneliness but reaching out to the people who are afraid to be in the world, and it implies that they can be free. It is post-punk but with a heart.
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