"Eyes to the Skies" by Green Hands

Out today is the brand new Green Hands single named "Eyes to the Skies" via Leamington's Stingo Collective.

Recorded with Patch Murphy (whose own song "Those Ways" attracted much positive comment when it featured on ‘Hot Music Live Presents Volume Thirteen'), it was in fact laid down during the sessions for last year's ‘Another Life or Two' EP, but held back until now for release as it was felt that it wouldn't be a snug enough fit within that collection.

The cover art is a bit of a hint to the theme of this beautiful haunting song: as Jack Telford puts it: "..it's inspired by stories of my grandmother and her family moving from south-west Ireland to a new life in England in the 40s and 50s. She would still talk about going ‘home' even after 70-odd years across the sea. Miss her."

Unsurprisingly given its theme, this is a really beautiful, haunting song. Fortunately as my series of admiring reviews repeatedly emphasises, Jack is one of the area's best songwriters (high time he got his full due in my opinion) since material this personal can be transcendent in its power when conveyed with taste & delicacy: too often people fall short in their emotional ambition & produce sentimentality or worse.

Two more thoughts: firstly they were right to hold "Eyes to the Skies" back from the EP: it's just too powerful a song to be bundled with others. The only possible option is to give it its own place in the spotlight.

Secondly, a key to the impact of the song is its simplicity & the fact that it's only Jack (guitar & vocals) and Patch (drums, bass and backing vocals) playing, gives the actual performance the intimacy it requires.

Not that it is really a ballad as my words so far might have suggested. If anything, the tone most approaches the melodic rock pioneered by the likes of Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac back in an era Jack has referenced before. There may be few instruments here but they contribute mightily, from the soft insistent drums to the gorgeous intertwining guitar & bass melodies.

Jack advises me that Green Hands are currently "hibernating" given that this time sees "some band members go gallivanting across to foreign shores" yet I'm sure their absence now would not have impacted the original recording lineup nearly two years ago: that would have been an artistic call & a good one at that.

If songs like "Carrickfergus" can make your eye a little moist with its evocation of the past, of lost childhood and of the natural beauty of Erin, then this one will potentially do much the same. Would that all of us have songs like this written in tribute. I imagine she'd be both proud & profoundly moved.

In the meantime, pending a planned full album for 2025, the release of a track this strong keeps this very fine band in our consciousness