Borrowing its title from a lyric in The Who classic âGoing Mobileâ, âAir Conditioned Gypsyâ has all the vim and vigour of that Whoâs Next cut, while archly weaving-in Smiths-y interloping guitars and an Oasis-like bravado.
The creation and homage of a true music aficionado, Darling BOY proudly wears his influences on his sleeve here and fashions them into something fresh, exciting and entirely his own.Â
Written over a weekend while staying in Dublin, âAir Conditioned Gypsyâ is a celebration of being carefree, living on your wits and approaching life with a willingness to find hope in times of adversity. âWeâll steal a future… now Iâve found you, Iâll never see a day without youâ Gold sings, his crystalline vocal etching optimistic words over intricately layered arrangements.
With history full of musical mavericks who have dared to break the mould to create some of their most enduring work, Darling BOY outlines some of the rock greats who came to inspire this latest song:
âMusically thereâs a nod and a wink to the Smiths and Oasisâ says Gold, âbefore it morphs into something (in my head at least) approaching latter-day Arctic Monkeys, back-to-his-original-accent Paul Weller and Give Out But Donât Give Up-era Primal Scream. The freewheeling vocal near the climax of the song is a small homage to Pink Floydâs Great Gig In The Sky and is sung by one of the members of a very famous girl band – also one of the authors of that bandâs biggest hit. But Iâm sworn not to tell you who it is. ;-)â
Recently taken under the wing of XTCâs Andy Partridge, it is surely not too bold or brash a statement to suggest that Darling BOY is perhaps one of the most intriguing and precocious young men in popular music today.
Darling BOY, or Alexander Gold, (for that is his given name) is an entirely self-taught multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and actor. Heâs starred alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyersâ Joe Strummer as The Clash’s Topper Headon in the feature film London Town, and more recently named as Musical Director of the smash hit musical All Or Nothing in London’s West End having played Ian âMacâ McLagan of Small Faces and The Faces and is playing John Lennon as part of one of the worldâs biggest cruise shipsâ resident Beatles.
He’s a member of The United Kingdom Ukulele Orchestra, been a guest of Dolly Parton in deepest Tennessee and asked to join two – two! – of Libertines mainman Carl Barât‘s bands. He’s been a member of Joey Ramone’s favourite band of all time, got talked out of setting up a London squat by Sex Pistol Glen Matlock, and been taken out for dinner by Moby.
As if all that wasnât enough, Alex has also joined Supergrassâ Danny Goffeyâs new band, switching between bass, guitar and drums.
âI bought my first Supergrass record in my teens after hearing âRichard IIIâ and thinking âf**k me, that drummerâs goodâ, Alex explains. âThey were obviously a great band (and, uniquely among their peers, always remained so), but being a new drummer myself and totally obsessed with the instrument it was Danny Goffeyâs playing that hooked me in. To be asked to join the band is completely mental.â
Ultimately though itâs creating music that spurs Alex on, and Darling BOY is the vehicle that finds him well and truly in the driving seat. Bursting from the speakers in an eddy of amplified acoustic thrum, blindsiding time-signature changes and soaring break of stand-out vocals, guitars, brass and banjos; âAir Conditioned Gypsyâ is a release that spells-out his big ambitions and to make it of his own accord.
Produced and mixed by Matt Terry and Gethin Pearson (The Enemy/Kele/Charli XCX) alongside Darling BOY himself, additional mastering for the track was completed by John Rivers (The Specials).
Enthusiastically referential and expertly self-aware, âAir Conditioned Gypsyâ is a modern-rock masterclass from one of the genreâs most prominent rising stars.
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