Song of the Week: Bermondsey Boy Rocket
For this edition of Song of the Week I had a bit of a surprise sprung on me, but it all turned out brilliantly in the end.
It's been a bit of a week, hasn't it? With all the buzz and excitement surrounding the big news about the collaboration with Ren, it's all been a bit overwhelming! Just me? I don't think so, but either way, this has been a welcome distraction from the wait.
When the poll went up for voting this week, I happened to mention in the comments that if it won, the writing of this might be interesting because this song had thus far escaped my notice. I'm not really sure how, I thought I'd heard everything, but somehow I'd never heard this one before. I don't know if this had any impact on the way the lovely folk in the Facebook group voted - I suspect it did, but there's a lack of evidence to support that claim. If it did, well the jokes on you (or not) because I actually love it.
Bermondsey Boy Rocket, as it turns out, is the perfect song for me to be concentrating on right now. I'd describe the overall vibe as chill, funky, and downright fun. Just what I needed! In the absence of illegal substances, it both relaxed me and perked me up enough to actually sit down and write this.
Take a listen, you'll see what I mean.
Though a slightly older song in The Skinner Brothers back catalogue, that skill for genre blending is just as evident. If I had to define it, I'd say it was a glorious explosion of 70's funk, mixed with punk leaning vocals. Which at first glance you'd think might not work, and yet it's delicious. During the thousand or so times I've listened to it in the past few days (only a slight exaggeration), it's had me grooving along with it every single time.
I'm no dance instructor, but I believe the proper way to dance along to this one is as illustrated:
I mean, this song is so groovy I'm surprised Zac's head didn't sprout an afro while recording it! Maybe it did and there's just a lack of photographic evidence. If I was better at photoshop and / or not lazy, I might be able to help your imagination along with that one, but you'll just have to conjure up your own image instead. If it gives you nightmares, I am in no way responsible for that. Blame it on the boogie.
Aherm.
I honestly wasn't intending to turn this post into a comedy sketch, it is a seriously good song. There's just something about funk that seems to naturally bring out comedy in my head. I blame Car Wash.
That's where my brain goes every time I hear anything even remotely resembling funk music. Sorry (not sorry).
On an only slightly more serious note, Bermondsey Boy Rocket really does have that power to make your body just spontaneously groove along with it. The chorus is eerily accurate ("This feeling I can't stop it"), and the second half of it is absolute perfection in the way it accentuates the music.
If you want it,
You got it,
This feeling I can’t stop it,
Say you need it can’t top it,
Bermondsey Boy Rocket
If you rock it
and pop it,
And move it,
And shock it,
Say you sweet it
Cant stop it,
Bermondsey Boy Rocket
The verses are just a teeny tiny bit grittier, but again, with that funky background music, it's difficult to do anything but give in to the groove, and with a smile on your face while you're doing it. It's almost hypnotic!
Right from the start, that bassline struts in as though it owns the place and the groove slides in so smoothly that your shoulders start moving before you even realise you’re dancing. From that point on you're destined to continue in a similar fashion all the way through and by the time you reach the end, even if you've been sat down the whole time, your shoulders feel looser and your soul a little happier. Music really is therapy.
Incidentally, this track can be found on the excellent 2Lager EP. The whole thing is a really great listen, so definitely check that out if you haven't already. You can find it on Spotify, or if you're feeling generous, buy it on Bandcamp to support the band.
I'm actually struggling to find more words for this one, but then I'm not sure they're really needed anyway. This is a song that you feel, rather than overanalyse, and I'm totally fine with that!
"Let your mind and your body go you nutter"!
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