It was Simon Curtis' birthday this week. I half expected the eternally youthful one to Beyonce his new single onto iTunes as his own birthday felicitation to the world. While this didn't quite happen, what transpired over the next couple of days was such a jaw dropping surprise, it left even the most hardcore robot army fan gagged > for rather than the much anticipated next record in his his solo career, Simon has teamed up with long time friend and oft musical collaborator - the equally ace Rochella Danishei - for what promises to be the the most invigorating coalition of evolutionary pop in the longest time. They present to you Wrathschild. Music history is awash with successful duos, bringing shimmering aural magic to the masses - The Carpenters, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, 2 Unlimited, Ant & Dec, Jedward and of course the flawless Same Difference. We may already have had the briefest of insights into what Wrathschild will bring through their duets, the revengeful Michelle (see here) and the deliriously good Wicked Baby (see here). I've no doubt that the music crafted by Wrathschild will resonate with me the same way Simon & Rochelle's solo endeavours have - the first single Fall Into Love (I can't help feeling the "into" has great signficance) premieres on Billboard later today before being available to purchase worldwide on iTunes on March 31st. Before I get to my thoughts on the song, let's examine the conceptual art linked to the project...
THE ART WORK:
There is no denying that Simon has always been confident in his musical output. From the holy grail of Alter Boy through to 8 Bit Heart and RA, we've never seen any hint of Lady Gaga style "it wasn't me, it was my team letting me down" meltdown. He lives and dies by his own sword - and this makes his audacious decision to wear a crown on the Fall Into Love cover art completely acceptable (and perhaps more than a nod of the head to his unreleased song Pop Messiah). Rochella stands by his side, a fiery determination and steely resolve on her face that shows what an absolute equal and deserving partner she is in this project. The ever so slight raised left eyebrow on her beautifully sculpted face dares you to challenge this notion. Wrathchild is a team and one could not exist without the other. I also love how the shot evokes both the medieval and the futuristic, almost like Reign via The Tomorrow People - as if Wrathschild have travelled through galaxies from their own land where they reigned benevolently, bestowing perfect pop onto their adoring subjects until they were forced to flee by dark forces (insert your least favourite pop artist here). Refugees on earth, they hope they have found a planet where hope exists; where people will seek out quality pop regardless of the obstacles & poor facsimilies placed in their path (this image certainly backs up this wild theory, though perhaps I just have an overactive imagination). If the cover art alone can generate 4 seasons worth of back story, then this bodes very well indeed for the music...
THE SONG:
Hope is one of the most powerful emotions. It overrides all those feelings of doubt and fear - worries that music you are passionate about will never grace the top ten again. Wrathschild and their debut single Fall Into Love - to quote another warrior in the Pop Army (Bright Light Bright Light) - make me believe in hope. At it's very core, Fall Into Love is a huge power ballad of the highest order. Lyrically it's about the power of love and that thrusting romantic image we have of what it should be like (cleverly bought to life by references to 80s movies and prom nights) - yet the way it's sung gives you the impression that our intrepid duo know that beyond the idealised notion of love there is hurt and messiness and hard work. They never say this (beyond "never hear love songs on the radio no more"), but the passion in their vocal delivery tells a whole other narrative of past experiences. Yet it's what makes this song so euphoric and optimistic. Peel back the layers and whatever you have been through in the past, love is worth a second shot so take advantage of the moment you are in & grab the experience with both hands. Set to a pounding percussion that seems to mirror the ever powerful beat of the heart, shimmering synths underscore the track giving it an elegance & energy that feel like the music is as sentient as Simon and Rochella themselves. Both give beautiful vocal performances with the production allowing their voices to shine & demonstrate the nuance the words of the song demand. A guttural, primal chant dominates the middle 8 and consumes the listener with it's giddy abandon, a musical manifestation of that freeing sensation that allows us to follow our heart instead of letting our head rule. That chiming electronic piano that closes the track says more about the nature of love than whole albums by lesser artists. It's all that magical and evocative. Across the universe, repressed citizens of planets where ingenuity & innovation is squashed in their musical output are starting to whisper "WRATHSCHILD". Their oppressors, sensing a shift, begin to fear what is happening as the rallying cry takes hold and everyone, everywhere sees Fall Into Love as their anthem of unforgettable, enduring pop. Buckle up kiddies, something special is about to happen...
Listen to Fall Into Love exclusively on Billboard...
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