Single Review: Campfire Social - Swim Swam Swum
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I'm not the biggest of drinkers; never have been never will be. Some of you who know me personally may well question that synopsis based on past behaviour, but it's actually true. I'm a frequent drinker without a doubt, but not a heavy one. I'd like to think that it was something to do with an enlightenment of the soul, an increasing wisdom in my advancing years. In reality, it's probably more to do with how hangovers intensify the existential crisis of middle age. THE PAIN MAN.
I also have enough bad habits for one lifetime thank you very much.
There's a drink that at this age that seems like the perfect antidote. I'm not going to name it, because I listen to Post Punk and that makes me an Anti Capitalist bruvvv. It has enough press anyway. You'll know the one - 'The Black Stuff', one pint feels like you've had a three course meal and it's THE quintessential Irish drink. Most people who drink it this side of the Irish Sea have one pint a year on St Patrick's Day, whilst wearing a comedy hat and shouting U2 songs at the top of their lungs...*shudder*. To limit the risk of being completely disowned by my lovely Irish friends, I'll now elaborate more as to why I can't drink it ever again in the fewest words possible. I love you Ireland..
The taste. The faffing around waiting for it to settle. The special branded glass. The phase I had in my twenties when it made me very ill. The girl I was seeing around that time who used to down a pint as a party trick, which was -without fail - the catalyst for a disasterous night to come. At risk of having my license revoked for the Middle-aged Bearded Hipster Man Club, I'll stop there. It does exist you know, we just fear the outside world.
But one thing that particular company does do well is advertising. There was that one where the wave turned into the horse, the one where the gorilla starts drumming to Phil Collins and that one where Del Boy falls through the bar; the list goes on. The slogan sticks with you too doesn't it? Good things come to those that wait. Clever, simple, accurate and does exactly what it says on the tin. The power of advertising eh?
The opening of the track sets the scene, a simple vocal harmony heralding the simplicity and beauty of the imagery we're about to launched into. Guitars chime and interweave with a hopeful tone and frontman Tom Hyndman launches into the opening lyrics:
On a sun-drenced beach, I baptise myself
and give myself completely to the sea.
Impressively tight, the band focus on building a wall of glorious noise pop that hits all the right spots in the Limbic Cortex. The chemistry between Hyndman and his keyboardist wife Carrie is an important part of what makes this track sizzle, but the rest of the band add backing vocals to the mix and it sounds like a life-affirming choir not afraid to raise the roof. The upbeat nature of the track is counteracted by the lyrics as the track reflects on the nature of human relationships and existence itself:
I do not exist;
I'm just a memory of something you thought was important.
The ending is almost an anticlimax as it fades away, but it's almost the ideal conclusion; allowing the listener to reflect further on the message of breaking down life's complexities to simpler model. It's been two years since Campfire Social have released a single and that is almost as long as it takes for the perfect pint of aforementioned drink to settle. Almost. In a world of instant gratification - and as a result, potential despair - songs like this are needed more than ever. It may be a cliche and it may have been used to sell alcohol, but the old slogan is right;
Good things truly do come to those who wait.
You can stream 'Swim Swam Swum' at the usual places now, but buy from Bandcamp and you'll be helping the artist much more.
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