In the fight against the robotic masses this year is one heartfelt singer-songwriter originally hailing from Swindon, then London, now Bristol, called Gaz Brookfield. Amongst Gaz's impressive knack for a melody and intelligent observant lyric writing he has also won Singer/Songwriter competitions and perhaps most impressively been the only unsigned solo act to sell out The Fleece in Bristol (a show which I attended last Christmas). A venue usually reserved for acts with much larger budgets behind them. I first saw Gaz play at 2000 Trees festival last year and was instantly impressed and since listening to his two albums "Trial and Error" and "Tell It to the Beer" have really grown to appreciate his ability and true commitment to his art.
Today Gaz releases his contender in the battle for Christmas No.1. A re-recording of a song from his first album (Trial and Error), called "Diet of Banality". A composition of lyrical genius and a bloody good tune to boot. It's a protest song in many ways; a middle finger to the notion that music should be a product with no heart in it, just created as a money-making scheme. A perfect opposer to the main contenders to this year's chart title.
It's taken some re-jigs for Gaz to finally get the single out as in a rather sad point of irony it seems that his attempt to share the messages of being true and playing with heart could be faced with legal action suppressing that message. Nevertheless Gaz has released a song with equally intelligent and powerful yet slightly less direct and risky lyrics.
Sadly it seems unlikely that Gaz will achieve Christmas No.1 this year but if you are one of the few that hope to keep truly heartfelt, beautiful music that has meaning and worth I suggest that for the sake of your conscience you buy "Diet of Banality" from a download store this Christmas or in failing that post the video for the song (seen below) around the internet or go and see him at a show and prove that his message is shared. He's one of the best singer/songwriter's in the UK right now and while he may not be appreciated on a large scale, like whatever remote controlled cyborg is at the top of the charts this year, I'm sure that it would mean the world to him to get through to at least one person.
I'm going to share the end of the world with him and a load of other great bands at The Fleece on Friday 21st December. I highly suggest that you join me for what will be, if the Mayans have got it right, a glorious send off.