Tag: Country Song

Time for some Britainicana. That’s not a word I’d come across, but it’s how Wiltshire singer-songwriter Gus White describes the music on his second album, For Now, Anyway. Given that there are a lot of Americana influenced British artists about, and we’re often told that Country is having a moment here, it could be a useful word. I might even use it again.

As well as a musician, Gus is a producer, festival organiser and an influential figure in the Wiltshire folk scene. For Now, Anyway, is an emotional and personal album, written in a time of uncertainty following a devastating breakup. The honest and heartfelt lyrics deal with the trauma of breaking up and tell of a sometimes-painful journey of self-discovery.

‘Country Song,’ is a gentle opening track, with Gus’ voice accompanied by guitar. The lyrics tell of the hope that a troubled relationship can survive against the odds. ‘Country Song’ has a gentle melancholy about it, and the same is true of ‘Watching the World Go by,’ but the tune feels more upbeat and there is laconic, resigned feel. Gus’ poetic abilities are also on display. Watching birds playing above, he wishes he could turn into stone; “I’d be a perch for those birds. No Longer tortured by words, And I’d never be afraid or alone”.

‘Bad News’ has a rockier feel. The lyrics deal with the time when the initial sadness of a breakup have given way to attempts to make sense of it all. It’s very contemporary in addressing the problem of being left with photographic records of a relationship that is no more. Of course, we’ve always taken pictures but as the repeated line “I have 400 photos of you on my hard drive” demonstrates, we take and store so many these days.

The first of several tracks with a very retro Country feel, including a slide guitar sound, follows. ‘Never Been Lonely’ is also the first track where the lyrics deal with self-discovery and analysis. The key discovery here is that the loneliness was always there. ‘Terrible Things’ returns to the gentle, acoustic sound, but the theme of self-discovery continues. This time though, it’s more lighthearted, using irony and self-depreciating humour to discuss the importance of seeking help when we need to.

‘We’re Done’ has a country infused indie folk tune, with a nice rhythm. Backing vocals add a retro touch. Gus describes this track as being the whole album in a nutshell and the lyrics cover multiple aspects of lost love. There is the inability to say what we mean, the agonising over what actually went wrong and the all the dreams that have faded. In fact, a whole narrative of life has died with the relationship and, as the last line says, “But I’m finding it hard to let go of this narrative“.

The title of ‘Head Held High’ refers to an unhelpful piece of advice – “You told me to keep my head held high”. It’s a good tune, quicker and with some nice honky-tonk guitar. This gives it an upbeat vibe, but the lyrics deal with the messy conclusions that follow a breakup, when nothing feels the same and life needs to be redefined. Another negative emotion felt at such a time is guilt, feeling that you’ve let people down, which is the subject of the aptly names ‘Forgive Me.’ For me this is the most retro track on the album. With its slow tempo and an almost yodelling rhythm, this feels like 1950s Nashville. A nostalgic track well performed and very authentic.

We return to the acoustic, country folk sound on the title track. The lyrics tell of the struggle to hold onto glimpses of hope, but hope is there, and the mood is lifting. That becomes clearer in ‘After So Much Time,’ where it’s finally time to move on, and the passing of time has brought peace. It’s got an interesting tune, with a strong, epic opening containing heavy percussion. This alternates with gentler vocal sequences.

It’s a good idea to end with the strongest track and I think For Now, Anyway does that with ‘Still Learning.’ Its an anthemic track, with a good honky-tonk feel and an infectious rhythm. The upbeat feel compliments the lyrics this time as hope returns, promising a new beginning.

For Now, Anyway is the story of the aftermath of a painful breakup. We go through despair, loss of confidence, self-blame, and guilt, through to acceptance and recovery. You could think of it as a sort of musical self-help guide, but that might not sound very appealing, and the lyrics here are thoughtful, honest, and heartfelt, with occasional bits of humour to lighten the mood. The music also stands on its own, underpinned by Gus’ accomplished compositions, skill as a musician and his very listenable voice. The style moves between acoustic country folk to some full throttle country, and it should appeal to lovers these genres. If it’s Britaninicana that you want, this is worth a listen.

Graham Brown

Artist’s website: https://www.guswhitemusic.com/

‘Country Song’: