Dead Sheeran - Keep Your Distance

  

  It was going to be the 7th and concluding part of Randy Smith's favourite political songs today but He's still slaving away on it ("such an important band to both me and the label ... so ... agonizing over every word, plus just plain exhausted! Will try to make it worth the wait!") and it'll be posted in a couple of days. Instead I'm salivating a song that I'm pretty sure Randy would approve of by one of the hottest new artists to hit the UK punk scene this year. 

  When I say new, Paul Catten has actually been releasing music for a while now (https://paulcatten.bandcamp.com/music) but his latest project, Dead Sheeran (https://www.facebook.com/deadsheeran), blew me (and many others) away back in May when he unleased a track from what turned out to be an excellent debut S/T ep (https://deadsheeran.bandcamp.com/album/dead-sheeran). It was a no brainer to feature a song on here and play a few on the show though considering how much positive press he'd been getting (plus a bit of chart success) it was a somewhat of a surprise to get a message recently saying "Hello mate, new Dead Sheeran  track for you. First one off the album, halfway through a vid. You've given me loads of support so I'm sending to you before anyone else. Hope you like it enough to play it mate!" 

  Did I like it enough to play it? Fuck yeah! (https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-130920/) Unsurprisingly it went down a storm. And now the video is available it's going straight on here. 

  The track is yet another Corvid related tune but unlike many, it's totally brilliant. It's the sound of Paul venting his fury over the current situation but lacing it with cutting black humour. Lyrics include "We got so fucking stupid, we're just waiting around, for some clueless fucking guidance from these stupid fucking clowns" and "I can't fucking breath and it's uncomfortable to wear...just wait until you spend some time in intensive care." Musically it's like a visit to the fairground whilst jacked up on speed. I've been lucky enough to hear the upcoming album, A National Disgrace (out December 4th...vinyl January), and I'm happy to report that it more than lives up to the promise shown so far. Definitely one to keep a space for on your best of 2020 lists. 

  So put on your fucking mask and get away from me, this is Keep Your Distance...