With a title like To Kill A Saint, Oliver Anderson makes it clear that he is going to go places with his music, places that others might shy away from. And if it conjures ideas of the innocents that are sacrificed in the name of religion, of punishment for perceived heresy, and accusations of witchcraft, then that makes for the perfect mindset with which to approach this EP. This is music for the underdog and the outsider.
This is a set of songs that crawl through the dark underbelly of society, take on tabooed themes, and explore the hidden spaces of the human psyche. It might not be for the faint-hearted, but it is certainly for those seeking modern, societal enlightenment.
The title track kicks off in a crawling, seductive, and slightly terrifying blend of raw and visceral sonics, not a million miles away from the gothic-blues world of Nick Cave or the destitute sidewalk that Tom Waits* calls home, but with a voice lifted from the noise of the modern city streets.
By contrast, “Sinking Ships” is driven by an almost acoustic-pop groove, but this is soon wrapped in salvos of alt-rock guitars, and “The Ballad of Syd and Waz” reminds us that the impact of the perfectly named The Streets was a long time ago now and the time is right for another dose of urban authenticity delivered in the honest language of those leading that life.
As the world grows darker, as the gap between them and us grows, as truth becomes more obscured by those with a controlling agenda, it is artists such as Oliver Anderson, the voice of the underdog, that we need to be paying ever more attention to. Sure, the music is designed to make you groove, but the lyrics will definitely make you think!
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