Hit The North: The Wright Stuff

“Our Truth Could Be Their Lie”
“EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Our Truth Could Be Their Lie!” That pretty much sums up the lyrical content of this track. Snowden, Assange, Whistleblowers and reading between the li(n)es – whatever we perceive is the full story generally isn’t. It's all told to the backing of a mariachi-tinged beat number. Also, the track features the horn-blowing skills of Brad and Keith from The Bronx/Mariachi El Bronx.

“No More Years”
An exercise in introspective, forward thinking, contradictory pop folk-rock. I wrote this as a spur to myself. Keep moving forward, don’t rest on your laurels, clocks only tick one way so you’d better go along with it.

“Help Myself”
The track that's probably easiest to mistake for a love song. It features the wonderful vocal stylings of Katie Richardson (Goldie Fawn, Katie and The Carnival) and Mr Stu Bell (Desert Hearts, ex-General Fiasco, ex-Panama Kings), and again, it's a fairly introspective song. Help yourself, be your own best friend.

“We Spoke With The Night”
This, and the next two songs, are a trilogy. I’d rather leave the lyrical content up to the listener on these three. A little mystery is healthy, right?

“Three”
Again, no comment lyrically. It’s the dark heart of the album, and the one that a lot of the pledgers seemed to connect with the most, going from some of the feedback. I don’t play it live too often, it takes a hell of a lot out of me when I do. Despite being piano-led, it’s the only track on the album with a guitar solo, fact fans!

“Big Red Van”
The closest to a rock song that the album has. It’s designed from every last ingredient to make your feet stomp and to sing along to. I've joked with audiences that it’s about Van Morrison’s communist leanings. At least I hope they know I was joking...

“You Can’t Win Back Your Freedom If You’ve Never Been Free At All”
I’ve got strange looks playing this song with my northern Irish brogue. Some disapproving and some approving. It’s not about THAT. It’s a campfire sing-song about money. The revolution will be accompanied by roasted marshmallows.

“Common Prayer”
The only totally acoustic track on the album. It’s the blues. With a set of wishes I think we all hope for. I recorded it after midnight in a pitch black church, with only my guitar, microphone and bottle of whiskey for company. Remember kids, drinking is neither big nor clever. I share that in common with it.

“Unified Unity (Sing For Seeger)”
I wrote this in the hope that it would somehow make its way to Mr Pete Seeger, as it was inspired by his mass communal sing-a-longs. Alas, that’s not going to happen. It’s intended as a rallying call and a tribute.

“Close Your Eyes, Fall Asleep”
This is the end credits, essentially. I wanted to make the album as cinematic as possible and this uses almost all of those elements to create a Beta Band, Beatle-esque climax. It’s almost like an instrumental piece in its dirge-like nature, except with vocals obviously. The repetition of the lyrics is painting those lines into the song’s fabric with the strings, brass etc taking up the spaces between.
Whilst we all ride off into the sunset..