ALAN M.COLE
You Just Might Try
Former Barrow shipyard worker, Alan M Cole, who back in the day, played in bands in hometown Barrow and Sheffield whilst at University, and who now works as a journalist living in Morecambe has released this, his debut double A side CD single.
‘You Might Just Try’, a song about believing in yourself and dragging yourself towards a brighter future, was written whilst he was living and working in London in the 90s, a time, he recalls, when “I was living life to the full and it was an incredibly sociable and fast-moving period”, surrounded by successful people in art, music and film. The song is inspired not only by this experience, but also the art, cinema, poetry and literature that were influencing him at the time, alongside the music that he loves, such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones through to New Wave and punk.
Recorded in Ulverston, in the South Lakes, initially analogue equipment was used in order to try to capture this DIY ethic, the song was mixed by Mick Armistead, formerly of James, and, alongside Alan’s vocals guitar & bass, features Simon Painter, originally from London and now a successful theatre producer in Los Angels, on drums and violin. Described by Alan as “raw, uplifting electric folk and backstreet drama,” the song, with its heavy rasping vocal delivery in front of acoustic guitar, steady drum beat and soaring violin, gives off a melancholic vibe, and is very much in the Dylan mould.
The second track ‘Silverstein Suite’, depicts the predicament of the high-profile US prison detainee Thomas Silverstein who remained the longest-held prisoner in solitary confinement in the federal system, having spent the final four decades of his life behind bars, the vast majority of it in total isolation. With its appealing electric guitar, insistent bass drum beat and swirling harmonica, this track very much has a Lou Reed/Velvet Underground feel, and captures a by-gone era perfectly.
Overall, an intriguing and enjoyable debut solo release, and one that will hopefully lead to more.
You Just Might Try