Bossy’s Ear Worm

Welcome to Bossy’s Ear Worm, which features songs currently in Bossy’s headphones. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

The Stranglers, Golden Brown.

Bossy doesn’t even know where to begin with this tune from one of the original punk rock bands on the English scene, The Stranglers, recorded on their 1981 record, La Folie. 1981 folks.

Okay, let’s start here: it’s a mix between Amadeus Mozart and carnival, delivered in the world’s greatest combination of time signature that jumps from waltz to 4/4 classic rock.

There are so many vocal/melodic elements in here that are reminiscent of bands like The Doors to XTC, but what really gets Bossy is the fleeting guitar soloist, whose tone is so surreally distant-dance-hall, warm and jazzy, almost like Wes Montgomery.

And the harnessed drums, which don’t make their appearance until halfway through the tune, are light-handed enough to capture something magical while managing to swing.

The whole thing: cogs in a wheel.