A very small fraction of humans possesses an actual ability to create a single catchy song, full of imagery and ideas and intentions… a complete song. A very small fraction of those people possesses the ability to turn that one song into seven. A whole EP’s worth of music that’s basically a single song.
From Nicosia, neighboring Cyprus, comes WORLD GOVERNMENT, an Alternative Rock outfit that’s been thriving for one-and-a-half decades. The intensive effort put forth on this project can be felt from the first minute. ‘Lucky’ is a project the band describes as a “maxi-single” because, simply, it’s a single song. Or rather, a single piece of music.
The main motif the whole album is based on is very simple: a descending 3-chord progression with fragments of instrumentation to be scattered on top accordingly. The words ask a question about luck. In today’s world, full of equal measures of strife, injustice on one hand, and unprecedented luxury and comfort on the other, are we lucky to be here now? Certainly an introspective concept. The music, on the other hand, tends to suggest that we’re not so lucky. Dark effects and heavy rhythms and a focus on harsh electronics and arpeggiators paint a grim picture that’s only accented by thirty-five minutes of the same chords in the minor key. Even the happiest of harmonic choices would struggle to sound so after thirty-five minutes of hammering.
The sound is very professional and truly varied across the seven versions/songs. We get a greater share of electronics than acoustic instruments throughout. Massive sounds and massive production do propel the songs into being arena-sized most of the time. The production value is certainly a point of strength. All the sounds are polished and in place, with nothing drowning or getting drowned by the surroundings. The transitions are smooth and non-intrusive. Perhaps songs 2, 5, and 7 will sound slightly too similar as the effects are just not that greatly varied to sustain 15 minutes of what’s technically low-power electronica with a consistent melody. It is also a great shame that the actual instrumental talents of the drummer were only put to effect on songs 1 and 4. The great beats and tight grooves on those two tracks do suggest that the album might have been more entertaining if those assets were further utilized. Also, the vocals sound very sharp and focused, and the harmonies precise and in place. In my opinion, it could have gone better with more focus on songs like those. Not to downplay the electronic effort exerted on the rest of the songs though, as my personal favorite one is song 2 (not Blur) titled ‘(Lightly) Lucky’, a slow burner full of interesting non-conventional beats and is borderline experimental.
In the end, I can’t say I can stand by all the choices made for this album. It might have needed more of things and less of others, in my own taste. But nonetheless, it’s a solid piece of work, full to the brim with effort and passion and craft from a serious group of artists, taking upon their shoulders a task that can be compared to making Prog-era Pink Floyd compositions. A big mission that is fulfilled more or less flawlessly.
