By now, regular readers will know that I have a love for music about spaces. That ability to transport you to a location, to wholeheartedly feel every little bit of an area’s energy and emotion while visualising a whole new set of surroundings is in my eyes testament to the artistry of the composer. On Craig Swan’s bandcamp only EP, he chose a simple space — a local café. Of the EP, he notes “It is named after a derelict greasy spoon café that seemed to perfectly encapsulate the erosion of local communities and the growing isolation of people in built-up environments.” The EP is a story in and of itself, one that takes this titular character of George and traces their journey as a heartbroken individual who’s foremost dream of running a business is shattered by vague notions of progress in the local area. It traces their emotional journey, from loss, grief, isolation, and hopeful redemption.
Musically, Craig draws his primary influence from what he refers to as misremembered places and times in Yorkshire. That’s such a quaint and endearing concept to me, to hear that someone’s own flawed but nostalgic recollection of space allows him to paint such vivid and luscious soundscapes. To be more specific to ‘George’s Diner’, experimental would fit the bill better than any other factor. It’s based in folk for sure, but the sonic elements that Craig uses fall far more on the electronic end of the spectrum making for that unique and euphoric genre that is folktronica.
The opening track, ‘Return to the Ground’ is an ode to the pointlessness of it all, a rather depressive nihilistic piece. That feeling of perpetual inertia, never moving forward becomes the focal point of the album’s start. Other’s fall on a similar theme, but there are tracks like ‘Unlimited Dream Company’ that draw on more fantastical propositions and ideals of content and community.
It’s far from an album to dance to, less so one that has an undying sense of upliftment or optimism. It’s a personal project, one that remains melancholic and experimental till the end. A journey worth embarking on to envision places deep and locked in your memory.