I don’t know if it’s intentional or not, but this song conjures up the quieter, gentler moments of Spiritualized, but in a bedroom folk version. I don’t often like naming an influence or a ‘sounds like’ comparison in a review. I prefer that a listener make their own comparisons rather than being led to think what I think or what the band wants them to think. But with Charlie Gearon’s new single ‘Need You More’, here’s a case where it’s impossible to avoid, and we embrace the Jason Spaceman in all of us that Charlie has distilled here.
There’s a lovely driftiness, a casualness, a daydreamed-and-painted atmospheric aura. The whispered vocal delivery, the 3-count on simple arpeggiated chords, the unbridled hypnotic repetition. Some lovely sliding maneuvers in the background. Some wobbly pitch-shifted instability.
What I love about the drums is the general lack of drums. Although you’ll hear a quiet cymbal now and then, it’s the several acoustic guitars and the way Charlie plays them that create an intended and implied rhythm section. Let your mind drift into the other dimension this song evokes, and you’ll start hearing the drumset that’s not there! There’s also a magical imaginary clock ticking away. Is it the alarm clock of love?
As for the message, this love song is shrouded in self-doubt, hesitation, and heartbreaking longing: ‘Half of me wants you to go / Please just leave / Windowsill light / It’ll be bright when you need it / All that I want is to hear you / Please keep speaking’
Kudos to Charlie! I can’t wait to dig into his full album, released on July 24th, also titled ‘Need You More’.
Written by Greg Gobel
