Cole might well be a new name on the indie music block – ‘This Is All A Dream’ is indeed the South London artist’s debut single – but GIITTV readers might well remember his former band Artbreak, who split just before the pandemic after a string of encouragingly vibrant singles.
This writer certainly had high hopes for the band – and we weren’t the only ones. Legendary Bowie/Morrissey producer Tony Visconti rated them enough to take on production duties, while the dandy highwayman himself Adam Ant was so impressed he invited them to support him.
How great it is, then, to have him back. ‘This Is All A Dream’ is, by way of comparison, is a more reflective and – whisper it – mature sound than his former crew, but it’s lost none of the conviction, drama and all round earworminess that made them great.
Cole says: “It is the dreamlike feel of a relationship steeped in inertia and confusion, and realization of where I exist in all of this, trying to maintain my own sense of identity and understand what it all means.”
Add to that a great video, shot – or so it very much looks like, anyway – around the same Camberwell flats that Goldie used as the backdrop for his ‘Inner City Life’ promo and which once were home to a young Jarvis Cocker.
Steeped in music history, needless to say, as is our man Cole, joined here by Pat Walden on guitar (BabyShambles), bassist Jack Flanagan (Mystery Jets) and Seb Rochford performing on drums (Gorillaz). The ‘Real World’ EP follows soon, apparently. We’ll be there when it hits.
Cole plays Thurs Feb 27, The Rebel Inn, 78A Streatham High Road, SW16 1BS
