The first in a new series of reviews of individual tracks that are well worth a listen
The core of the modestly-named prog rock band Hats Off Gentlemen it’s Adequate consists of Malcolm Galloway (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer) and Mark Gatland (bass, backing vocals, keyboards and co-producer). Burn the World is the first single from their new album An Introduction To The Light of Ancient Mistakes. The two gentlemen have been playing together since they were at school.
The subject of the song is climate change. Galloway describes the protagonist as a ‘regretful human’ considering the choices we could have made if we didn’t want to ‘ruin the world’,
“All the things we could have done, and we chose to burn the world“
In Galloway’s view, ‘We have amazing potential, but risk making terrible decisions because we assume that someone else will sort things out.’
The track has something of the atmosphere of a Pink Floyd song, without feeling derivative or like mere pastiche. It begins with a contemplative guitar, soon joined by Galloway’s vocals which are reminiscent of the very English, yearning style of Tim Bowness of the band no-man, albeit with a deeper baritone range. The depth of the baritone voice is matched by the robust bass guitar which is beautifully recorded. The production is sparse and limpid, emphasising the gentle melancholy of the song. The chorus is hauntingly simple, with a gorgeous falling chord sequence that lingers in the mind long after the song has vanished The track gradually builds to a bluesy guitar solo which nods to the great David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. It’s a suitably epic conclusion to a song which is far more than adequate.