"Hurry Up & Slow Down" by Danny Ansell

Coming really soon from Danny Ansell is his new single "Hurry Up & Slow Down": the follow up to April's "Fireworks".

Once again recorded & produced by Eddie Thomas at Woodworm Studios in Oxfordshire, in addition to Danny's own vocals, (acoustic) guitar & piano, he's joined as usual by Patrick Beard on bass guitar with Steven Shelley on percussion, Chris Eardley on lead guitar & Ocean Colour Scene's Leon Harrison plays the drums.

With such collaborators like these around him, it's hardly surprising that Danny really leans into the band on this one: in fact I think that whereas his band based singles of late might come across as full arrangements of songs which also work well in solo performances, this one sounds like a genuine band centred composition from its inception.

Personally I've heard it live (you probably have too) and it is a bit of a highlight within a set which let's face it already is chock full of crowd pleasers.

Danny tells me that he sees it as "a song about getting older I guess!" but although I'm sure he's right (who would know better than its composer?), it's very far from the traditional "September Song" sort of piece on age & experience.

Firstly, Danny has been writing mature lyrics for so long now: it's impossible to define any of his songs over the years as being the products of callow youth. Audiences getting into the thrill of the singalongs live may not totally focus on his words, but they are definitely reflective.

The other aspect is an irony: one might expect that a song about getting older might bemoan the inability to maintain a high octane lifestyle: in this case it's quite the opposite. "Hurry Up & Slow Down" addresses the irony that he's playing more than ever these days: more than fifty shows a year, and across the whole country. He says that it "..reflects the times we are missing our families & friends when we are performing away week in week out , Music & performing live is something that's in my blood but I've always been fully always aware that it comes at a price with certain sacrifices". Now you won't get too many young bands who'll offer such ideas in songs. Not until they've lived the life at any rate & Danny's now been doing so for a quarter of a century.

This one portrays dignity and  self-awareness as much as he might previously have evoked aspiration & hope and his band get it too: their performance amplifies these aspects.

So there you have it: once again a thoughtful Danny Ansell lyric set in a compelling & frankly anthemic arrangement. They'll be waving things in the air to this one at his gigs (especially those of his age group) but equally frankly that might be said of so many of his songs. You need stamina in your arm muscles if you follow this artist around.