★★★★
Arnold’s twenty-fifth album covers social media, Big Tech and mental health. It was during the making of the album, Arnold was unexpectedly diagnosed as autistic. His realisation that his lifelong passion for music, is actually a self-regulatory and self-healing activity rather than just a career, makes for a fascinating backdrop.
Tim Arnold’s voice is as beautiful as it is sincere. The tonal quality is so rich, his comparison’s to Bowie are not unwarranted. The theatricality of the songs are prominent, with many different distinct characters permeating the tracks.
There are many stand-out songs that work on their own merit, including the upbeat Make Me All Right and the anthem of an opener Start With The Sound. With the experimental Finally Everybody’s Talking I felt transported to the avant-garde of the seventies music scene.
Everything Entertains is reminiscent of Feeder’s Buck Rogers and that early noughties post-brit-pop vibe, yet its message is very much rooted in 2023. It’s a testament to Arnold that he can span musical styles half a century apart almost effortlessly.
There is an interesting contradiction in what Arnold is saying; the horrible addictive quality of social media and being glued to our devices, yet their importance as a method of communication and connection when you are autistic.
A Commercial Break is an amusing satirical diversion parodying the annoying adverts that clog up Spotify (a platform Arnold boycotted after their decision to invest in a military defence company).
Usually concept albums can sink or swim based on the adherence to its message or subject, something the Pet Shop Boys found to their detriment with a similar album Fundamental. Yet SUPER CONNECTED manages to use its concept not just as a cohesive narrative, but allows many of the songs to transcend into brilliant ideas of their own.
Super Connected is released on limited edition gatefold vinyl, CD and all DSPs on 5th May 2023.
Pre-order the digital album/Vinyl/CD on Tim’s Bandcamp: https://ditto.fm/super-connected-tim-arnold
