Laura Hocking’s EP Laura Hocking and the Long Goodbye first struck me as being one of intense sincerity! By that, I don’t mean the heart on your sleeve type exposure as her lyrics are far too deep and clever to be so obvious. There is an intellectual depth to her sincerity that feels like the whole process is somehow spontaneous and natural with no contrived effort. Added to this she has great vocals which accentuate that depth.
For me, the highlight of her EP is ‘Strongemen and Acrobats‘ which was written for her brother who has Asperger’s Syndrome. Laura wanted to thank him for what he had taught her, and in turn help others understand the world of someone with autism:
Strongmen and Acrobats:
There were strongmen and acrobats circling you in silhouette
As you stood by the bloody great fire, begging to leave.
You had crumbs on your raincoat and overgrown nails
And our mother said you tried the patience of saints
With your hood up and head down refusing to look
As the town blew its budget on pyrotechnic displays.Oh, you taught us to tend towards clemency
Oh, it caught me under the collarbones, fairly frequently.There were bad girls and bully boys circling you in your corduroys
As you stood by the big yellow bus, counting your change.
They said Show us your shoes! And of course, you obeyed
And they looked at you funny, the way you behaved
Then they annexed your assets and laughed as you waved, saying
See you on Monday, then.Oh, you taught me to tend towards clemency
Oh, it caught me under the collarbones, fairly frequently.There were women in overcoats, tapping their nails on their case notes
There were five kinds of diet and six sorts of soap for you.
There were curative clinics, psychologist cynics,
Well-wishers and hippies, procedures and tricks
And it shook me to see old Hippocrates’ oath
On the walls of such hypocrites.There are strongmen, and acrobats. And o then there’s you, in a Thinsulate hat.
There are healers and dealers and deposit-stealers using muscle or wit.
You’ve got crumbs on your raincoat, an ill-shaven chin
But you’re perfectly happy ‘til the fireworks begin.
Then you cover your eyes just to keep out the din
And you beg to go home again.c. Laura Hocking 2011
We all know that lyrics can make or break a song…when you get the lyrics spot on and the music begins to convey them with their original intent then you are onto something special. The opening lyrics often get the most focus which will either capture or lose interest from the listener. Two Thirds Is A Dream has one of best opening lines I’ve heard in a while: She is the last ice cube in an ethanol sea.
There is a lot more to Laura Hocking than meets the eye, one thing is for sure…she has an amazing voice and her lyrics are goddamn amazing! You will replay this EP over and over again. A born natural for sure! You cannot go wrong…buy it!