freckle tan
I’ve got a sort of envious hatred for the prolific. Like those kids at school who were really good looking, great at all the sports (even rounders, and everyone’s at least okay at rounders), did well in every subject, and got on perfectly with everybody. I grudgingly hated those guys, purely because they had everything and did it all effortlessly, as the rest of us struggled in school with bad skin and horrific social skills. They were impressive but you didn’t want to admit it.
Then there are musicians you know who turn their hand to anything and they kill it so seamlessly that it’s actually inspiring. Of course, I’ve no hate for Joe Hearty, Copy Haho guitar-slinger and singer, even as the envious semi-average guitarist I am. Instead of being the spotty kid looking out and seeing that guy score a hat-trick for the school team, it’s actually really motivating to see a person do so bloody much - previous solo efforts by Hearty include the tenderness of Talkbook (New Blood is still an absolute favourite of mine), and all signs point towards an amazing debut LP with his Haho compadres. Sort of makes you want to put some fucking effort into something, doesn’t it?
So Freckle Tan, then? It’s pop music, for sure, with scratchy muted guitar lines and Kraftwerk-y keys, taking on religion and hope, fairly formidable lyrical battles. A pop song that isn’t about being in THA CLUB etc? Weird to think that’s sorta daring now.
It’ll be interesting to see where Joe goes with this, if indeed he carries it on. Sure seems like a sound investment of time if these songs are anything to go by.
