The phrase “Broken Britain” has returned to Britain's political discourse in recent months. Both left-wing and right-wing media have begun to use this phrase and its variants with greater regularity. Poverty, healthcare, housing, inflation, energy prices, pollution, crime and a broken political system, to name just a few, have seen large sections of the British public raise their hands and declare: “Does anyone care about us anymore?”
Well, one person does. Grace Petrie, arguably one of England's greatest folk singer-songwriters, feels and shares our pain. As someone who has tirelessly toured the UK and beyond for years, Petrie has seen the cracks up and down this sceptered island. Instead of repeating the mistakes of the past, Petrie poses the question: why not Build something better?
It's been 14 years since Petrie first wrote a protest song sparked by austerity measures imposed on the population due to some selfish bankers (the rhyming slang is true too) and their greed. The passage of time has not brought any improvement; In fact, quite the opposite. This has led Petrie to recognize that anger is not just a reasonable reaction to our world, but is crucial for anything to ever change. Build something better It is the product of this intuition.
With eleven tracks, Petrie's tenth studio album has a lot to live up to, following the magnificent and acclaimed 2021 album. Connectivity. So, has Petrie managed Build something better?
'The Best Country In The World' is a great opening salvo, bringing the album to a vibrant start. In this battle march of a song, Petrie raises his banners, makes them fly high, and invites us all to ask: “Is Britain really that great today?” It is a question that must be asked. Change can only come about through genuine debate and an honest assessment of how things are. “Doctors on strike, teachers on strike/And there are no railway lines that reach us/We would fight them on the beaches/But the beach is full of shit”, Petrie frowns, showing his anger at what the nation has become. He is a great opener.
Petrie's venom continues unabated as 'The House Always Wins' delivers a scathing critique of the dishonesty and immorality at the heart of British politics. It's a slice of quality folk rock with twangy strings and a thumping beat, with Petrie's passionate voice soaring like an angry eagle. And she is angry as she analyzes the crazy world of failed, shamed or sacked ministers and politicians and their lucrative post-political careers.
“If you crash the economy, mismanage public health dangers and cause enormous damage to civil services, you will be rewarded with reality TV ads and celebrity treatment for life!” explains Petrie about the song's inspirations. “This is the clear message of the post-government rehabilitations of Johnson, Hancock and many others. The idea emerged as a rigged metaphorical casino, where we all think we are playing with the same odds, but ultimately the house always wins.”
As Petrie enters a melancholic mood, things slow down with 'King And Country'. A soft but rich guitar plays softly, creating a feeling of desperation. Throughout the track, the notion of King, country and the role of the British media are scrutinized as Petrie makes clear how they do not speak or act for her.
Next, the sociopolitical issues of the old United States of America are placed under Petrie's microscope. 'Mean While In Texas' has a deep southern country vibe, while fiddle and slide guitar take prominent positions in the mix. The United States has seen a rise in support for far-right beliefs and pro-life dogmas. The repeal of Roe v Wade has opened the floodgates, initiating the potential erosion of the rights of many who do not support these values. The song nods to the poem 'First They Came' by Pastor Martin Niemöller – “First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak, because I wasn't a communist…” Today, it is about the right to abortion; Tomorrow there will be gay marriage. Where do you draw the line?
“Meanwhile, in Texas, girls are going to die tonight,” Petrie laments, as clandestine abortions and increased suicides will be the price to pay in this post-truth world. While this song is both beautiful and haunting, it is elevated by the excellent production of punk-folk workaholic troubadour Frank Turner. It gives you extra power and a rich sound.
As a society, we have never been more connected, but we are seeing higher rates of loneliness. Social media gives us a platform, and often an echo chamber, to communicate without the human need for social contact. We sit with our phones, expressing our worries, feelings and hopes while we let Netflix (other streaming platforms are available) scroll through yet another box. This seems to be the central theme of 'Next Episode Starts', a desperate ballad supported by a beautiful, softly bubbling acoustic guitar.
A love story set against the backdrop of a world that is falling apart, 'Start Again' centers on hope and belief in the power of humanity. The only thing we can depend on is each other in times of crisis and adversity, especially when many of them are caused by the decisions of a few. “In the crowd of everyone/I thought I saw the world to come/I saw another Albion”Petrie purrs, choosing to be positive and showing how one person can start to make the difference they want to see.
Petrie has never shied away from hard work. 'Earthwire' he writes and tours regularly, holding a mirror up to the challenges of being separated from a loved one and eventual reconnection. A song about the joy of love, it tells the story of Petrie going from an almost vagrant existence to happily becoming a homely bird.
'Cynicism Free' follows this, rejoicing in finding the kind of love you never thought possible and abandoning the cynical view that love and romance are nothing more than a Hallmark gimmick. “Fill my days with laughter/Happily ever after/But since you showed what love can be/I'm free of cynicism”, sings Petrie proudly. I swear you can hear her smile as she sings these lines. The song has a strong Frank Turner vibe. You can detect her fingerprints everywhere.
“As a veteran master of empathetic music, Frank Turner was the first and last choice to produce. His pitch-perfect instincts have taken my howls of rage and turned them into what I hoped they would be: a soundtrack for hope.” Petrie declares about the collaboration.
Love can be a very magnificent thing, but the idea of your life partner breaking out of this mortal coil and leaving you behind with your pain is simply terrible. 'If I Were To Outlive You' is Petrie's nod to the '80s classic 'There's a Light That Never Goes Out' by The Smiths. Petrie, who wants your loved one to avoid taking unnecessary risks, monitor their health and practice self-care to reduce the chances of losing them, suggests these approaches in hopes of prolonging life. The only pleasant way to lose a partner is if you leave them too. That's more appealing than being without them. With just an acoustic guitar for company, this song sticks to the edge of “I'm just kidding/I'm serious.” The song revolves around comments made, possibly said in a light-hearted way, in conversations with the person you love that have a deep, meaningful and powerful honesty.
'Fixer Upper' is another track that highlights how our planet is turning into shit, but states that there must be hope. Without hope, why bother moving forward? If we all control ourselves and do our part, we can be successful. But where the hell do you start? “Maybe I'm kidding myself, but I think it could be beautiful/If we could stop ourselves from getting discouraged/And maybe we'd still have time to build something better from the past.”, Petrie howls like a battle cry to us all. The song has an anthemic quality, urging us to get off our butts and do something to evoke positive change. No matter what: start.
Closing the album, they treat us to a chugging ballad. 'English Culture' hears Petrie sound almost broken, her voice marked by desperation and disappointment. Draw attention to the current trend of promoting division over unity under the vigorous waving of the Union flag, in the hope of obscuring the country's problems. The media endorsed the best distraction tactics. Shouting about national pride is all well and good, but does it replace the need for food banks, reduce NHS waiting lists or counteract homelessness? “You can't hide the cracks with the Union Jack”Petrie shouts, hoping the flag-wavers will peek out from behind the red, white and blue curtain.
Just when it seems like the album will end on a downer, the song builds to a brave and triumphant finale. It leaves you wondering what's next for all of us. The open nature of this album's conclusion feels like an open invitation for all of us to write the next chapter for Build something better. Who's in?
While I have no doubt that Grace Petrie devotees will love this album, it may also open the door to some new fans. The decision to reach out to Frank Turner is a big change for me. Several tracks are arguably more “radio friendly”, with DJs such as Jo Whiley and Mark Radcliffe giving airtime to the single “Start Again”. Turner also provides a more emphatic platform for Petrie to demonstrate her well-crafted, crisp lyrics. This is a good collaboration for both parties.
This album is a wonderful balance of rage, anguish, disgust, joy, love and hope – all emotions that Petrie conveys with great aplomb. What could easily have been an 11-track bile-soaked rant has managed to balance itself by looking for solutions rather than simply spouting off an inventory of problems. The blossoming of Petrie's love relationship and the value she places on it prove that good things can happen even in the darkest of times.
This year there could be big changes around the world. Embrace Petrie's soundtrack for hope. That said, it's hope that kills you…
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