Cousin Tablet draw inspiration from impact of life’s bitter pills
Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell
When Galway four-piece Cousin Tablet released Whatever Happened to Betty? last March, they enlisted the help of piano, saxophone and fiddle-wielding friends to add texture to their debut. While frontman Donal Gibbons had initially pictured a straight, heavy rock sound, their sophomore single, in many ways, follows suit.
Lost at Sea deals with themes of grief and loss, though the focus is purposefully shifted towards a more general story than any specific experience. The group describe it as ‘big music’ – dynamic, cinematic and full of layers.
The song was released on December 10 and Cousin Tablet will celebrate its launch in Campbell’s Tavern this Saturday, December 18 – albeit seated and at half-capacity. It is a venue they know intimately as individual musicians but one that is yet to house their new work. Donal explains the reflection that has gone into this latest track.
“We’re kind of at that age now where all of our parents are getting older,” he explains. “Just in the last few years, three of us have had parents being sick or passing away. They’ve been slow processes. It’s just reflecting on that.
“The other angle was to do with a few peers of ours who have burned the candle at both ends a bit too much. There’s a bit of that in there too. It’s my own personal experience as well but I tried to make it more universal than personal. I was conscious of other people going through the same thing.”
Lost at Sea clocks in at six and a half minutes and the song is a journey both instrumentally and in subject matter. It all but stops halfway through before building up towards a frantic, intense end. With such an experienced and talented line up at his disposal, Donal had no trouble bringing his vision to life.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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