PREMIERE William H. Michael, "Walls"
Cleveland cult rocker William H. Michael among the organ keys; press photo courtesy of the artist.
The tribulations of time bring about a barrage of surreal side effects, and changes that are rarely discussed in the chats, and the increasingly limited face-to-face exchanges we share with friends, family, loved ones, and acquaintances. Sure the body gradually breaks, the mind aches, and all the countless ailments that inevitably come for us all; but the bouts of claustrophobia break onto the scenes when we least expect.
From moments of deep, personal, and restless existential thoughts to the functional gridlock that arrives with the addled states of being overwhelmed; that strange, sinking feeling that the surrounding walls are caving in occurs in many mysterious manners. The feeling of trying to reverse gravity, and grappling with the forces that extend beyond the limits of control are put on a collision course as we are left in the downward freefall abyss of unstoppable entropy.
This sentiment and other such short stories on the human condition comprise the new power-punk anxiety anthem "Walls” from William H. Michael. The Cleveland tunesmith known as WH Michael, and/or BillMike follows up the releases Shadows in the Dark, Modern Sounds in Pop Music, and more with the new album Jazz Destroyer for Big Neck Records. A fixture of the Ohio underground through the bands Al & the Coholics, Forgotten Souls of Antiquity, MK Ultras, along with various other projects and works; William’s latest solo effort offers exclamations on the irreversible avenues of life with big heavy hymn brushstrokes from the heartland.
“Walls” cranks up the big sensationalist power punk production in a high emotional and energetic outing about not being able to stop the unstoppable. William H. Michael makes a song to confront the feelings of grappling with that kneejerk panic of being boxed in with no way out, no where to go, no place to run, and nowhere to hind. The fears and paranoia of being unable and ill-equipped to derail the steam driving engine of life’s winding trajectories is delivered with an abandon to the natural forces that all earthly matter contends with as an organism.
From obsessive thoughts on the detrimental reduction that decay brings, to other degenerative changes that are unavoidable (despite our best, and not-so-best efforts to combat): “Walls” wallows, wails, and rages with a wanton abandon to the invisible forces that consume us. The guitars charge and chug with high flying hopes to harness the controls to our destiny and quests of valiant dreams.
"Walls" finds W.H.M. kicking against the imploding confines like a weary seasoned pet picked up from the S.P.C.A. fighting against the crate enclosures that keep it locked out from everywhere else. The blistering ballad revolves around coming to terms with what we cannot change, the endless battle to accept the way things are, and everything we wish we ourselves, and the world, could be.
William H Michael provided insights on the development of the new song:
“Walls” was written with a toy ukulele while I was sitting in the bathroom as my young child was taking; a bath. She had remarked that she didn’t think my hair was going to grow back, at which point the riff just fell out with the lyrics bald forever (which eventually became the Kim Deal-esque female backing vocals, albeit without the bald forever part). The lyrics, which were also written almost instantly, touch on mild schizophrenia and the feeling of being trapped in a situation you can’t escape from, like being bald forever!
Jazz Destroyer arrives August 7 via Big Neck Records.