In anticipation (and believe me it’s considerable anticipation) of the forthcoming Holy Joy album, How to Kill a Butterfly (Out October 28th on Exotic Pylon Records) it’s really worth drawing attention to these two recentish singles, available via iTunes etc and on cdr at the band’s gigs.
Following 2010’s majestic Paramour, “Oh What a Thing This Heart of Man” does not disappoint. Ushered in on the sound of crashing waves and swooping seagulls, a quiet intensity builds from the start with a typically impassioned vocal from Johny Brown who soon questions, “Why can’t things be the way they should?” before issuing the powerful call to arms, “I say we strike out now…” Seen live the song ascends to another level, Chris Brieley’s slashing violin driving the song forward as Johny loses himself within it’s ebbs and flows. Eventually the music falls away leaving us back with the gulls and a distant bell ringing out to sea, all in all a stunning seven minutes.
In contrast “On the Ground Where John Wesley Walked” is an elegaic tale of loss, “Those good things never last…” rich with atmosphere and the unguarded emotion Holy Joy give so generously. The reference to the founder of Methodism John Wesley is presumably linked in part to Wesley’s strong presence in the east London neighbourhoods closely associated with the band, and the Foundry arts venue where Johny DJ’d, which was named after the building Wesley preached from.
The return of Holy Joy was a cause for huge celebration, their continued existence fully justified by recordings such as these and the beauty and raw emotion of their live shows. As was always the case; if you pour your heart and soul into your music, you may not sell millions of records but the people you touch stay with you forever.
