Conor Houston - If I’d Known
By Thomas Bridger
In his newest single If I’d known, Sheffield/London-based artist Conor Houston presents his musical ingenuity and clear intent to deliver original, innovative music.
Conor Houston - If I’d Known
Performed almost entirely acapella, (with the exception of a shaker, and some didgeridoo providing a bass sound in an almost ambient fashion) If I’d Known relies on Houston’s lyrics, as well as backing singing to carry the song. Beginning with finger-snap off-beats to dictate the tempo, this is the only consistent backing that Houston receives. The main vocals, sung almost in shouts of indeterminate pitch, are occasionally joined by the backing singers, who accompany Houston in close, dissonant harmony.
These harmonies are nothing however, compared to the ‘instrumental’ section. Still consisting of layered vocal effects, the slight harmonic ‘crunch’ in the vocals becomes a wall of dissonance and indeterminate tonality. The only clearly distinguishable part is the rhythmic squeals on what is either whistling vocals, or some sort of woodwind instrument. This section becomes almost too overbearing, but it’s clear this was Houston’s intention.
Overall, I found If I’d Known to be an intriguing experience; it’s never too easy to listen to any piece of contemporary music which breaks away from conventional harmony so drastically, but it allows the listener to engage with the music much more thoughtfully, enjoying certain aspects of music they never otherwise would have.
It’s always refreshing to hear a South Yorkshire based artist that doesn’t try to replicate the music of Arctic Monkeys or The Sherlocks. Conor Houston’s If I’d Known is a fine example of this; with innovative timbral and harmonic textures, his presence in the Sheffield music scene is criminally underrated and I hope that Houston will begin to make waves in the near future.