From the confines of a cosy cottage in the Peak District, something deeper was written. Bred through a feeling of hopelessness in not pursuing ambitions, and a homage to his acoustic folk roots; George Baines has blessed us with a seven-track EP that is guaranteed to make you smile, weep, and everything else in between.
Originally from Silverstone, George has had a busy few years in the spotlight. Having been named BBC Introducing’s Artist of the Week on national BBC radio show, Georgey Tonight in late 2017, and a previous single named Track of the Day on BBC The South; Baines has taken a step back from the clean, chill-pop sound of his previous singles, and subsequently returned to his speciality of fingerpicked acoustic-folk.
In the summer of 2018, George disappeared up to a friends cottage in the Peak District, armed with his instruments and recording equipment. Here, the singer-songwriter laid the foundations for his DIY project, something deeper. Only enlisting the help of mastering engineer Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios, the EP is otherwise written, recorded and mixed entirely by George himself.
something deeper opens with key single; Off Key. Written before George’s move to Brighton, the song is an unapologetic insight into the isolation of village life, and the hopelessness felt by not pursuing your ambitions. Jumping straight in with vocals and acoustic guitar simultaneously; Off Key introduces the EP in a soothing, zephyr-like fashion. The steady yet gentle drum beat creeps in just after the second verse begins; giving you time to enjoy the gentle flow George’s vocals and plucked guitar provides. Like a paper boat floating downstream, the song takes you on an adventure. Somewhat irritant and impatient, George’s vocals tell of tales of pipeline dreams in sadness and frustration. Little ad-libs here and there show his exasperation with being confined to a small town, and not being in fact where he wants to be. However, although a little impatient in vibe, Off Key is not in any hurry to take you to your unknown destination; you can enjoy the journey.
Snow brings us in nicely to a slower, slightly sadder side of George’s collection of songs. Not to worry though, although sorrowful to a degree, Snow is beautiful in both melody and story; exposing worries of being left behind, and bringing us closer to the man behind the tales. Although acoustic plucked guitar is a familiar setting for each of George’s songs, each melody is carefully picked out from the crowd; assisting him in singing his truths. Double tracked vocals are key in this track, adding depth and texture while stable guitar keeps rhythm. The lack of drums is quite suiting to Snow, and gives a relaxing and soft vibe throughout. Don’t be fooled though, although calm in nature, this song speaks of more serious matters. In a recent interview with Vegan Recordings, George indulged; “The main theme is moving away from home and missing your friends, but the other message is about not wanting to speak out about being down – for fear of bringing others down with you. It’s hard for some blokes to talk about that stuff I think.”.
After Snow comes Something Deeper. A kind of interlude, this track follows from its predecessor in a smooth fashion, with one note playing continuously right through to the end. At first listen, you expect it to be an instrumental affair, yet George manages to sneak a little verse or two in there, creating a mini-song of sorts. All the while slipping in little pieces of Off Key here and there, Something Deeper incorporates what we’ve already heard into a familiar yet refreshing intermission.
22 Years tells influences of Elliott Smith, this time introducing synth into the collection. With balanced harmonies levelling out the multiplex of picked guitar, the vocals intertwine with the rhythm to become whole. The song chugs along steadily, although slowing here and there; allowing you to keep up alongside.
A year later, 23 Years now to be exact; the story continues persistently, integrating the synth first heard at the beginning of the last track to create a reprise familiar with the works of Eugene McGuinness. Only 2 minutes long (give or take a few seconds), 23 Years continues with the theme of 22 Years, but in a somewhat different light. The strummed guitar is carefully placed at the beginning of each bar to start, then carries on into a consistent rhythm to bring us into a slow, dragged homage to the previous track.
The end of 23 Years introduces the accompanying guitar for Sorry, a melancholy yet hopeful tune. The main vocal lines cut through the progressive guitar, and are soon joined by compelling harmonies which resonate deep. This wistful tune seems to speak of suicidal tendencies; however, it’s from an unknown persons perspective. Instead of telling of the reasons why to feel in such a way, Sorry George introduces a soft, but powerfully dynamic guitar ‘solo’ of sorts; however this does not take away from the song itself. The two components come hand in hand, the guitar almost singing for a short while; bringing an end to the penultimate track of something deeper.
The closing song, December (Quiet Christmas), is more cheerful than the rest in melody. A beautifully assured end to this journey of an EP, the tune brings Christmas into Spring in an unapologetically non-commercial way; not focusing on the holiday itself but on the aspects around it that bring us such joy. Although the track speaks of the loved ones who cannot be there for the holidays any longer, the song is somehow not sorrowful in sound. Instead, it celebrates the life we have and pays homage to those who have lived that life before us.
To summarise, the EP as a whole is enchanting. Seven tracks, weaving in and out of personal tales, carefully plucked acoustic guitar, and meticulous intertwined vocal melodies; something deeper tells us a story that tugs at your heart strings and makes you want more. George Baines is an innovative new artist that has reminded me why I fell in love with music in the first place, and I truly hope you love this perfectly curated collection of songs as much as I do.
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