ON ICONOCLAST
A working class ethos forms the backdrop for Hodge's EP Iconoclast. An irreverent take on the slog that is urban life for a great many Londoners can be found in "Ignoramus" and "CU Next tuesday", dealing with the gauntlet that is the morning commute and the intense frustration of a working life free from fulfillment. It's not difficult to find an empathy for the themes and thoughts on display. An eloquent everyman tackling issues to which we can all relate. Whilst romance is far from absent, tired and trite romanticism is thankfully nowhere to be seen. Be it the thoughtful treatment of his own chosen Genre in "English Folk" or the nature of personal relationships and the home life, there is an honesty and an abundance of passion on display.
Relevant, resonant and dynamic, both musically and lyrically, Iconoclast stands up as a truly exciting debut offering.
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from
Iconoclast,
track released September 22, 2014
Glenn Hodge Banned – Iconoclast EP
DL
29 September 2014
9/10
Folk/Punk singer songwriter releases his new EP, Louder Than War’s Paul Scott-Bates reviews
Here’s something exciting, and that’s not often said in music. It’s nothing revolutionary, but there’s an air around Glenn Hodge Banned that you should really be inhaling deep into your lungs. Another of those superb poets that seem to be springing up at the moment and pairing their words with some equally s exciting music.
Banned rather than Band, presumably because of the no holds barred’ lyrics and or just a play on words, looking like Matt Johnson and sounding like a cross between Billy Bragg and Billy Franks steams through a five track EP with a swaggering confidence.
Opening with Ignoramus and it’s take on the London commute, it’s relevant, it’s clever and it’s a cracking tune. Words roll out of Hodge’s mouth on an impressive lyrical conveyer belt and engrave an everlasting image on your inquisitive musical mind.
There’s an impressive backing band which serves to compliment Glenn, but to be fair it’s his anger and angst that shine through his inspiring lyrics. Like the aforementioned Bragg there’s an honesty and reality which isn’t really disguised at all and is easy to relate to.
Intrepid Thing has a violin or fiddle whispering along in the background as another life story unravels, and Wasted Labour, like the lead track manages to fit the word ‘buggery’ into its storyline as if it was a word that your Auntie Florence regularly said over tea and The Archers.
Glenn Hodge is a unique talent, and hopefully it will be recognised soon. Closers English Folk and C U Next Tuesday continue the exquisite line-up with a slightly slowed down pace sowing that he has more than one side to his art.
Hodge and his music is passion personified. Often thought provoking, often filled with anger and frustration, his talent is exciting to say the least.
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