Chas Leman first hit the radar with the evocative and poignant yet anthemic single The Last Boys To Be Picked at Football. The artist introduced a great sense of melodic-riff building, energy, and topical nostalgia that was quick to appeal.
Now we get to hear the true versatility of that approach, this old-school Brit Pop and Rock aura that’s rooted in stories and a broad range of influences.
Oh So Lonely is a completely different kind of track, perhaps slightly less catchy but kind of strangely rewarding in being so. The mellow energy and the again impressively original guitar riff helps carve out a fresh lane. Then we get these retro paired vocals, the accompanying visual that nineties kids will instantly connect with, and the song builds and brightens to offer a rise and fall progression that’s a little reminiscent of the softer tracks from Blur, back in the day.
Chas Leman is a songwriter who is proving consistently interesting. It’s the writing that separates things these days, without a doubt – songs that appeal and connect but which also feel genuinely unusual and original. That’s the case with both of these tracks, and Oh So Lonely is both heart-breaking and uplifting in its gentle glow and this fusion of emotional passion and literal details and images. It’s a pleasure to lose yourself within for a while, and I look forward to the next release.
Find Chas Leman on Instagram & SoundCloud.
