It takes a lot of skill to capture a feeling, a sense, through music, but that's what Minerva Daisy has managed to do, masterfully, with her new release, 'Something Strange'. This was another track emailed to me on spec, and one which really stood out.
The track opens with a slightly tinny and deceptively cheerful piano riff, and my first thought on hearing this for the first time was this was going to be an upbeat, slightly lightweight song. But that was the wrong impression and I'm very glad I kept listening. That lighter feel only continues for a few fleeting seconds before the passion really kicks in.
Minerva's vocals are the first to appear, opening with the tantalising line "There's something strange in that look in your eye ...". It's then that you begin to sense there's something darker seething under the surface. That 'something' emerges from the sound of Minerva's voice- pushed to the front, with a subtle use of clipping - as well as the words themselves, and from the really firm, bassy electric guitar which pushes its way in.
It's an example of a very clever use of musical metaphor - leading the listener through a story, perhaps subconsciously. Maybe that misleading opening piano was a deliberate ploy?
"The song was written approximately an hour after I found out that an ex partner had cheated on me and I think the anger is definitely reflected within the track," Minerva says. "It takes a darker edge than all my previous releases".
Now it's starting to make sense.
"You did me wrong, you can't make it right" she sings, and later, "You lie and you steal, stealing hope from all around"
Listening to this, you get a great image of Minerva really laying it out on the line, not holding back, standing up and calling out this unidentified person for what they've done. This works - you're on her side - and I think that's in a large part because of the way she has drawn on so many elements to support her story.
All in all, there's a great feel of coherency to this track - it's a rewarding listen and one of those that bears putting on repeat a few times, just so you feel you've got your fill. And - guess what - it's in 6/8 time too (I've got a bit of a history with that time-signature as regular readers may know).
The track was recorded and produced by Tayte Nickols at Mad Fox in Manchester, Minerva's home town. Minerva also hand-drew the artwork, which she says was heavily inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Saul Bass posters. Look out for the video too ...