"Before You Go" by Duke Keats
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Although poor physical health had been added to mental issues amongst the tribulations of Brian Wilson, it was still a shock to learn he passed yesterday. The word "genius" should be used sparingly to keep its value but I am sure many of us do not begrudge its use in application to him.
Like many of you, I tool refuge in his work: there are so many apt songs to post given his penchant for the melancholy and introspective alongside songs about beaches and yuong women.
Duke Keats as is his wont, put us all to shame by releasing a song before the day's end, inspired by Brian & hence capable in this context of being a tribute also.
"Before You Go" is in fact like most of his pieces, merely one of several from a wider project: this one is the first release of material from his latest 'Avalon'.
I suppose it makes sense for a writer whose gaze has so often fallen upon California to salute a writer indelibly associated with that state (and I know nothing about the wider project though I take note of it referencing a place legendarily set in the West).
"Before You Go" is haunting enough without the associations added to it yesterday. Certainly compatible with many Beach Boys beautiful melodies, multiple Dukes harmonise virtually a cappella before light instrumentation slowly becomes ever more apparent. A simple lyrical theme and refrain speaking to universal feelings yet feeling profound, with any complexity coming from the harmonies. You can imagine the band performing it yet it's no pastiche: it's very Duke Keats in style also and so fits just as snugly in both traditions. However as of today, it's a tribute and a damn fine & classy one too. If Brian can hear it, I think he'd approve.
