Black or grey vinyl single/digital
2020
(Review by Steve Shafer)
Perkie and The Co-operators' phenomenal trad ska single "Concrete, Steel, and Stone" is being released as a preview of their forthcoming second album Beating the Doldrums, which is due for release in early 2021 on producer/musician Eeyun Purkins' Waggle Dance Records.
According to the band, the record this cut comes from is, "a concept album of sorts discussing the turmoil and struggles of life under the current system and the journey to escape its confinements." In this regard, "Concrete, Steel, and Stone" seems to be a great choice of a single, as it sharply illustrates The Co-operators' thesis.
"Concrete, Steel, and Stone" is a song of great beauty and sadness; an earworm that you'll welcome taking up residence in your brain. Perkie's gorgeous vocals (delivered quite gently, as she's bearing bad tidings that we know in our hearts are true) float over a brisk ska beat and express profound sorrow and regret that we live the way we do--out of synch with nature and the world around us, in a prison of our own making (that may be turning into a tomb).
The song's lyrics are worth quoting in full, as one may not be able to make out the verses--and they're worth noting:
"Cars cross fibres, thread veins, sew layers, vessels of busy brains
We don't always notice our chains
So, we don't make change
We stick to the root we feel most comfortable in
But is this your skin?
They built a body out of concrete, steel, and stone
And then they called it our home
They built a body out of concrete, steel, and stone
But now I wanna go home
Noise and lights
Make noise and fight
Who chooses who's worthy or scorned?
Who chooses to be born
Into a life of mourning?
Who's willing to climb the hill to see the morning sun rise
Open your eyes
They built a body out of concrete, steel, and stone
And then they called it our home
They built a body out of concrete, steel, and stone
But now I wanna go home"
Anyone paying close attention will have noticed that another recent Happy People Records 45 came from Eeyun Purkins and The Co-operators--Joe Yorke and The Eastonian Singers' sensational roots reggae single "Judgement Tree" (which I reviewed here). If you like top-notch ska and reggae sounds, they've got the goods!
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