Musician and fellow writer Greg Gobel has finally released his long-awaited EP ‘Hard Drive Fossil Tapes, ‘ and what a stunner it is. Deriving its name from the hard drives that the songs have been sitting on, the EP makes it clear that Gobel is only getting started with his solo releases.
Never before have I been so intrigued about a song’s title, and yet here we are. I mean, ‘Your Unbeatable Legs (acoustic version)’ is an out there name, although it does do what it says on the tin. Running beside the person you love both physically and metaphorically. A fairly adorable meaning if you ask me.
Even though the song can be slightly overwhelming at times with all its layers, the harmonica remains the star of the show. An underrated instrument, Gobel intertwines it well throughout the track perfectly; you can’t imagine the tune without it.
Bold and in your face, ‘Your Unbeatable Legs (acoustic version)’ is definitely the embodiment of “go big or go home,” but it works; it absolutely does the trick of leaving you desperate to hear the rest of the EP’s offering.
Where would we be without‘Sweet Honeybee Licorice’? Sounding like something straight out of a sci-fi film, it shows the American musician’s talent of making you feel without ever using words. There’s an air of mystery within it, wobbly and slightly all over the place.
The clarinets are like nothing I’ve ever heard before, heavy and effortlessly cool, throwing you right into the heart of the song. He’s caught you hook, line, and sinker with this gem, and, if I’m honest, there’s nowhere else that I would rather be.
Originally written for The Waiting, there’s an edge to ‘Empty Hands’ which hasn’t been present in its predecessors. Think along the lines of if country and punk had a baby, then this would probably be the result, and I dig it big time. Despite the harmonica making a reappearance, there’s a huge tonal shift compared to ‘Your Unbeatable Legs (acoustic version)’. Out with the cutesy romance and in with the bitterness: “There’s nothing I would do for you / darling, I take you up off the streets, and you stick me with needles and prick me with pins.” The vocals take a turn, too, becoming a bit rougher and more rugged around the edges. It’s one of the main things that I appreciate about Greg, he doesn’t confine himself to one sound or genre, the whole EP pushes the boundaries regarding what music is and can be.
There’s a dual vocal section embedded within. Comprised of purely vocals, it’s messy and disorientating as the vocals happen at different times, sometimes feeling as though they’re fighting with each other, but that’s what makes this track (and the EP more generally) brilliant. The vocals are a perfect reflection of the heavy emotions that are reflected in this tune.
Undeniably marking itself as one of my favourites off the entire ‘HDFT’ tracklist, ‘Empty Hands’ offers a promising future for the singer/multi-instrumentalist.
Diving right back into the romance, ‘Just Right’ is an acoustic-tinged, heartfelt ballad that reels you back from the chaos‘Empty Hands’ left in its wake. With lyrics including “Your voice makes me melt / I love all your imperfections”, you can’t help but fall ever so slightly in love with the song.
The vocals again sound different, not angry but lighter, as if the only thing that matters in the world is the person Gobel is singing to. They remind me of the slower songs from Blur’s discography like ‘Tender’ or‘No Distance Left To Run’. A fantastic song which demonstrates Gobel’s range, I can’t wait to hear this one on a show’s setlist!
Heading back down the cinematic road, ‘The Unknown’ feels like the beginning of a huge blockbuster film. From the growling bass to the clarinet, you can’t say that it doesn’t grab your attention from the get-go. Then come the acoustic guitars, followed swiftly by the electric.
I think co-producer Dave sums this one up best: “That’s mental even by your standards!” But it can pay off being mental, and I think this industrial experimentation is a prime example of what I mean. There’s everything, but the kitchen sink shoved into this song, and if you think I’m exaggerating, then you really need to give this song a listen (actually do that anyway, even if you think I’m being serious!), there’s rubbish compactors and birds thrown in the mix too! That’s another thing which I think Gobel deserves more recognition for, being able to create something extraordinary out of the everyday.
A Yin and Yang track for sure. The light balances out the darkness and vice versa. There is (as the name implies) a feeling of mystery within which I think the unusual instrumentation helps to push forward. With the scraping of the rubbish compactor, percussion, and squawking rounding the song off, you can’t help but feel a bit sad that this whirlwind is over.
Last, but not least, ‘Fairground Reprise’ steps up to the mark to close off our musical adventure with a bang. There’s indeed that classical fairground joyousness, but it’s painted in a creepier light. There’s a sense of foreboding within the song, like something terrible is lurking around the corner, but you don’t know what yet. It’s an unusual way to finish off the EP, but I can’t really complain because it’s a solid way, too.
I think my only complaint with this release is that there aren’t enough songs. From the sweetness of ‘Your Unbeatable Legs (acoustic version)’ to the madness of‘Empty Hands’, this six-track delight has firmly cemented itself into my ‘played on repeat,’ and I think it should be added to yours too!
Written by Madi Briggs
