The Strange and Terrible World of The Big Grey Man

Any artist is welcome to send us a track via freshonthenet.co.uk anytime between Monday lunchtime and Wednesday evening (or when we receive 200 submissions, whichever is sooner) - and all our moderators, including Tom Robinson, will listen to every track. This is our full inbox from the week beginning Mon 3rd October 2022: from Friday afternoon you'll be able to hear our shortlist and pick your favourites on this week's Listening Post which will appear at freshonthenet.co.uk/batch461

If a track you submitted does not appear in this list, it’s probably because another of your tracks appeared in our Fresh Faves or on the BBC Music Introducing Mixtape during the last three months — we ask that artists featured on either wait three months before resubmitting to give others a chance. 

We also don’t accept short previews or SoundCloud Go tracks that can only be heard as 30 second previews, and tracks made private after submission, which cannot be included in playlists. You will be able to resubmit the track in future. Tracks (and remixes of tracks) that have been previously submitted, and tracks from banned artists will also be removed.

ENTIRE INBOX: Batch 461

What A Difference A Song Makes!

I'm on your Wavelength
Stacking up like ghosts where the peaks collide

Wavelength

Serfs Up

Ooh-ooh, can't tell you what to do
But I really wouldn't pick that one if I were you
The last guy who had it, he was losing the plot
He was up to something, never found out what

Mmm-mmm, thanks for the advice
But I just have to have it, it just looks so nice
The eyes are so alive, the claws are so unique
And he went all pale and clammy and he couldn't speak

I swear the shadows in the corner
Rose and shivered as he drew
Now don't be stupid man, there's no such thing
As a Haunted Tattoo

Hey-Hey, as I wished him good day
He said "Are you ever angry, are you prone to rage?"
I said "Hey what me?", he said "Ah, you'll see"
And then he tipped his hat
And well we left it at that

Then on the way out, I met this guy
He had the same tattoo and a mad look in his eye
He said "you'd better believe me, now don't go stealing my sleeve, see...
There can be only one, now put 'em up, it's on"

I swear the shadows in the corner
Rose up like knives and ran him through
And his blood ran like ink, now I know what you think but
It was the Haunted Tattoo

Oh please believe me Brother Officer
I'm really not the one you're looking for
Now I know how it seems
It was the ink not me
It was the Haunted Tattoo

Ooh-ooh, Haunted Tattoo
Should have gone with something personal
Or even tribal
(Come on, what tribe d'you think that I come from)
These days you don't get far without a decorative scar
But I've got not regrets, so just show some respect for
For my Haunted Tattoo


Photo by Sean Patrick from Pexels

Haunted Tattoo

Written to a brief - a friend wanted some "upbeat" music to put on instructional videos for a no-nonsense bit of water sanitation technology called a "Zimba" (http://zimbawater.com)

Suprio Das is the guy who invented it.

The videos are for a trial run in Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Kenya - who from my research like R and B music similar to the rest of the world (though one video did involve collecting water from a river and a lot of booty shaking - didn't see them treat it though...).

Anyway - I can't do that as well as them, but one hi-life guitar You-Tube video from the brilliant Helen Ibe later and this was the result.

https://twitter.com/Helenguitargirl
https://youtube.com/c/HelenIbemusic

Zimba (Pump The Water)

Sumerian Jive

Moody, brooding verses with underlying filthy distorted bassline. Lyrically, highlights the toxically positive catchphrases which constantly drip into our ears.

LYRICS:
Smiles around town If you’re upside down
It’s joy division Rose-tinted vision
No elephants in the room 
Some have it worse than you

Can’t be happy when I’m sad 
Can’t see the good when it’s bad

Turn that frown around
There’s silver linings in every cloud
You gotta laugh, don’t cry
It’s all rainbows and butterflies

Can’t be happy when I’m sad 
Can’t see the good when it’s bad

Look on the bright side 
You’re lucky to be alive

The Void EP

Toxic Positivity

MAGIC SEAS - This Time

BlueStar - Love Has Just Walked By
A tale of summer love gone wrong
Found and lost your summer love?
Suffering the inevitable break up?
This is the song for you!

Love has Just Walked By  ©BlueStar 2022
Arr. and produced by BlueStar
Lyrics by J Mitchell
Music by J Mitchell
Tenor Guitar, fretless Bass, percussion, vocs: John Mitchell
BlueStar@thebluestar.co.uk

Now available on iTunes at:
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1628682099

Featuring the BlueStar band on resonator tenor guitar and Rickenbacker fretless bass.
BlueStar ©2022
bluestar@thebluestar.co.uk

Apple

Love has Just Walked By

Comfort and Despair

The song is about somebody wanting more from someone who just wants something casual and the general mixed emotions and confusion having a casual partner can create.

Bitter

Wild Horse - Bitter

Winners

A piano led, ambient track that, with the help of the lyrics and vocals from The Big Grey Man, tells a nautical story of ups and downs across the open seas.

Riptide

Riptide (Feat. The Big Grey Man)

Introduction

Far Side

Former drummer who, when the pandemic hit and isolation begun, bought a MIDI keyboard, installed a DAW and started to learn!
I've always loved creating new music when playing in bands and now I get to create new tracks using my keyboard and laptop!
Still learning, always learning! 
Using a combination of samples and the keys to create tracks.  There's almost no better buzz than when a track starts coming together!
All vocals on tracks are from royalty free samples (I wish I could rap but I can't).
Although I used to play drums in rock bands these tracks are more influenced by my love of hip hop.
Hope you enjoy!

Riptide (Feat. The Big Grey Man)

Talman