January 24, 2018 - Double Six/Domino Records
George FitzGerald is back in his hometown of London after a decade stint in Berlin. His relocation heralds a new LP, and the first single is hot off the digital presses. 'Roll Back' is designed for a familiar, decisive moment three hours into the heat of a club night. After we’ve been vulnerable together long enough on the dance floor, we simultaneously face the tragedy of human existence together. With 'Roll Back', FitzGerald gives us the spoonful of tonic we need to make it through the long night stranded together in the deep dark ocean.
Bedford-based producer Lil Silva’s voice tolls like a clear bell, uplifted by the rolling waves of the synth build and eventual crashing of the percussion. He leads the way through the endless emotional space of the song. His voice is raw and strong, and his vocal resonance is miles deep. FitzGerald capitalizes on these qualities, using a light touch with the vocals to create in Lil Silva a perfect hero.
Every element—the lyrics, the undulating triplets, the rising chord progression—is asking us a question and forcing our participation as listeners to become highly personal. The song questions, and we try to answer. It’s a divine conversation between musician and listener. Like Orpheus playing his lute for Hades. Bow down. There is constant tension and release, and the tension is shared, as though FitzGerald is saying, “This is the question. I don’t know the answer either, but don’t fret. At least we have each other. It’s going to be ok.”
While George FitzGerald is certainly a musical master, he does not want listeners to get hung up in the music theory of his work. He wants to challenge us emotionally. He requires what we bring to the song experience as listeners to be equally important as what he brings. His primary concern is the primal force of music itself, the sublime secret that has carried music with us universally throughout the existence of humankind.
This is music. It is fiercely relatable, like a mirror at the bottom of the ocean in a velvety midnight dream, reflecting back at us. A bite of pure human power.
‘Roll Back’ by George FitzGerald featuring Lil Silva is the lead single on FitzGerald’s upcoming album All That Must Be, out on March 9th. Let’s plan a skinny dip. ☔