Roger Cole & Paul Barrere – “Political Freak Show” – Single Review

Here are some names we know and recognize!  Frequently haunting the halls of SBS with all kinds of different approaches, styles, sounds and ideas in their music, Roger Cole & Paul Barrere have been featured on our pages and in our show SBS Live This Week many times.  It’s been an interesting ride for these two…legend has it there was a lot of doubt surrounding the very beginnings and whether or not it would work-out…and I’m pretty sure by this point in their career now, those doubting have become silent.  Like any combination of talent, Roger and Paul needed that time to fully evolve and grow together musically…and over time, practicing, recording and writing, voila – they’ve now got themselves a reliable approach they can count on no matter which direction they choose to take their music in.  Who would have thought right?  You put in the heart, you put in the effort and the hard-work…and you come out winning?  Sometimes it’s comforting when A leads to B as predictably as it should.

Whether it’s the playful vibe in the melody and music of “Political Freak Show” or its tongue-in-cheek sarcasm combining with thought-provoking imagery in the words, you’re bound to like something about this latest single from the duo.  In my opinion, we’re still catching these guys on the way up…each time we seem to interact with them, they’ve got something great to offer that really improves & builds on what we’ve heard from them before.  I like, and very much admire, that these two guys never seem to be able to sit still…they’ve tried a musical-cornucopia of styles and sounds and I really think it’s admirable to be fearless like that when it comes to recording and creating music.  I think it leads to taking chances…I think it leads to creative breakthroughs…I think it leads to incredible jams and grooves that lead to songs like THIS.  “Political Freak Show” is a shitload of fun from the moment it starts.

First of all…there’s a ton of things I could cite that I truly like about what’s going on here.  Aside from a few moments in the verse where I wish I could hear the lyrics come through just a tad more, there’s nothing I’d change about this one, and that comment could very well just be the ‘old man’ in me.  What I really like though, is plentiful here on “Political Freak Show” – the piano/keyboard melody for instance…that’s fantastic.  The subtle synth in the background, the harmonies come out sounding spectacular…the beat is CRISP and snaps with perfect strength & punch in the mix – how about those for starters?

I say for starters…but really, you don’t want to get me started on DAT BASS.  OMG, DAT BASS!  I mean, c’mon!  Hand these guys the award for one seriously intense rhythm and groove lining the walls of this song…DAT BASS is incredible people!  What a seriously impressive bass-line!  I’m not saying there isn’t anything else going on here on this song…clearly, I’ve already demonstrated that…but DAT BASS is mesmerizing – I could listen to this groove all day long.  The complexities and intricacies of the bass-line are pulled off with stunning perfection here and really lead the rhythm to a dynamic place that allows the vocals to find their own perfect moments around it and let the guitars do their own thing and cut loose when the time calls for it.  Definitely think they’ve put together a strong combination of music & lyrics on “Political Freak Show” – but it’s also clearly that instrumentally, they’ve also brought their A-game to this entire recording and committed to every ticking second.  The result is a highly entertaining song that has rad theatrics and a very accessible spin on a progressive style of writing.  This duo continues to impress…it’s always awesome to hear what they’ve come up with next.

And I’m just gonna say it one more time, because I’m seriously that jazzed about it…but…well…listen to DAT BASS will ya?  100% awesomeness.

Find out more about Roger Cole and Paul Barrere through their site/label at Better Daze Music and these official links below!

Official Website: www.betterdazemusic.com/music
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Political-Freak-Show/dp/B01HTCIU8A
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1130515622?ls=1&app=itunes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BetterDaze3
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1qhGThH