by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The sound of Connections has always been easy to embrace, a triumphant blend of basement show grit and super charged pop hooks. It’s rock ‘n’ roll played with economical intention, building songs to jangle and rattle in equal measure, developed through a long string of releases over the past decade. On March 24th the band return from a five year absence with Cool Change, their latest for Trouble In Mind Records (FACS, En Attendant Ana, Guardian Singles), an album that understands the need for major changes in our current world, but does all it can to give a semblance of familiarity; a feel good batch of syrupy choruses, bright chiming guitars, and a lo-fi recorded warmth. We all know Ohio has long been a breeding ground for many great bands, and Connections have always had that buzzing in their DNA, combining the “college rock” of the 90s with a subtle sense for psychedelic pop and a breezy flush of memorable hooks. The Columbus based sextet sound focused but detached, playing it cool as they wonder how we got here and when we can move forward.
“Bird Has Flown,” the record’s third single is compact and immediate, packing shimmering hooks into each and every turn. The song comes from a place of heavy thoughts and the inescapable anxiety that arises from too much news, watching the world burn in real time. While the concern is very real, the song is decidedly upbeat, singing about the stresses of being alone and unable to breath with a sense of celebration. It’s a neat trick that throws off the senses but keeps you thoroughly engaged amid duel guitars (including a delightful solo), propulsive rhythms, and some cosmic synths that blanket the song’s crescendo.
Speaking about the song, Andy Hampel (guitarist/songwriter) said, "It's a stream of conscious pop song informed by maybe too much news and daily doom scrolls. There's a big sing-along chorus to make the veggies taste better."