Fire In The Sun
Josh Arnold
One of the outstanding albums of this already bulging with good works year is the country tinged Fire In The Sun by singer/songwriter Josh Arnold. This is accessible music but music with meaning, depth and great playing. I contacted Josh to get comments on the twelve tracks that make up the album and get some personal insights into this infectious work.
Soft Light
"The opening track is a slickly produced feel good pop/rock song. Originally written as a birthday present for Tash, it evolved and grew to be probably the best love song I'd written up to that point. The track has an infectious chorus that draws parallels to some of Neil Finn’s work. Overall the song is smooth and the vocal delivery composed, showcasing a strong and emotive baritone presence. A perfect opener."
Courage
"This song would have to be my favorite on the album. It possesses an intense emotional depth in the verse before soaring into an inspirational and all-powerful chorus. For me it is like the mother of all my songs and my shining light personally as it can lift me out of the darkness. The vocal delivery is intense and the band plays with controlled power. After the last chorus, the song breathes for a short moment than builds into a two-minute outro, climaxing toward the end making it an epic journey as well as an uplifting musical experience."
Haze
"Track three is a floating ocean inspired rock/ballad. The verses ring with a sweet recognition until the chorus takes the listener into another dimension with an unpredictable shift. The song climaxes with a psychedelic instrumental and intensely performed final chorus before the ocean calms into a subdued ending."
Ripple On The Tide
"This was the first single off the album and features music legend and Bob Dylan’s first choice guitarist, Charlie Sexton. The track opens bare and acoustic and slides into a hypnotic rhythm. The vocal falsetto is smooth and haunting whist the chorus relays a message of longing for what life could be outside our comfort zone. Very cool track, yet still a very spiritual experience."
Fire In The Sun
"The title track is a monster due to its awesome production and intensity. The vocal presence is enormous and surrounded by an atmospheric wall of guitars, making it the bona fied classic rock song off the album. The lyrics express a longing for someone or something in a cold and miserable world but the chorus conveys eternal optimism..."My love for you is like the fire in the sun...burning on and on."
Losing Sunshine
"The song opens with Midnight Oil’s explosive drummer, Rob Hirst, belting the skins and setting the mood for a sharp, dark and concise number. The message is to the point, children growing up too fast and adults mapping out their lives, the general disenchantment with western society and fabricated humankind void of inner sunshine. Sonically, the music and production compliment the dark nature of the track."
Miracle
"Lyrically this song starts from the point where the last track left us, but ultimately conveys a message of positivity, spirituality, inner strength and the togetherness of humanity. The delivery is as emotional as the melody is sweet. A beautiful bass line, discordant violin and a memorable classical guitar solo by producer Michael Flanders support the whispered vocals."
Mama Tina
"This is the most unique song on the album and one that affects me more than any other. It’s an Irish/Vietnamese swampy rock song that tells the story of Christina Noble (Mama Tina), a street child from Dublin whose destiny it was to embrace, love and eventually save the forgotten street children of Ho Chi Minh City. There's something about this lady and this song. My best vocal on the album, perhaps because of the inspiration behind it."
Garden Of Life
"A simple song with simple lyrics, but a pure message delivered with conviction and emotion. A nicely layered track, you can hear new sounds with every listen. A powerful vocal directs some spirited playing on this anthem of peace."
Flower Wild In Seed
"Sonically, this is my favorite track off the album. After a group of emotionally intense songs, it suddenly takes the listener on a whole other journey. A warm and relaxed vocal surrounded by mesmerizing sound patterns, it intrigues yet soothes the soul. The Celtic style violin outro takes you to another dimension."
One Night The Storm
"Like a bolt of lightning and with a crack of his snare, Rob Hirst jolts this full-blooded rocker into gear. Charlie Sexton keeps the intensity at a knifes edge before the Pearl Jam style chorus. There are lyrics of deep regret and retribution..."Now the wolves are out for blood"...with an inspired one-take vocal, this is the live band track off the album and an exciting change of pace."
Follow
"Clocking in at six minutes and fifty seconds, there could be no better way to finish the album than with this epic. An infectious riff drives the tune with a harsh vocal filled with conviction. The song tells of society’s addictions and traps generally associated with following each other and lack of individualism. The outro is a beautiful piano based repetition that sets the listener down before quietly closing the album."
Thanks Josh.
Rob Hudson
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