Kolubara, a two-piece from the Midlands, start their debut release with a bang. Crutches and Vanishing are a powerful duo, with beautiful sounds that will take the listener on an extraordinary journey.
Crutches is a rather aggressive and anxious song, delving into themes such as the fear of losing someone, the need to get their attention, the dysfunctional relationship and eventual resentment. The instrumentals speak as loudly in this musical piece as the lyrics. Vanishing, on the other hand, is a tranquil track about loss, grief and coming to terms with the fact that the other person had to leave. It could be seen as a closure to all the pain and anxiety felt in the previous song. It is safe to say that their first release is a very complex and complete work of art.
Dave Wood (guitar, vocals) and Dan Wright (drums, vocals, electronics) say this about Kolubara: “The endeavour is an exploration of the contradictions of our humanity; our conceit, our humour, our empathy and our disdain, and this is reflected in the expansive musical landscape of the band”.
Personally, I am a big fan of honest music. The type that does not shy away from someone’s internal struggles and manages to tell a story of going through a transformational episode, and coming out alright.
The A and B-side combination of Crutches and Vanishing is definitely very cathartic, and I can’t wait to hear it live, preferably at a festival next year.
—
