Cup of Joe – Clay Joule (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

In Clay Joule’s world, music is more than just entertainment. It is also there to inform, educate and enlighten, it is there to make you think, and his latest single, Cup of Joe, does just that. With his usual genre-hopping style, a deft guitar line here, a spiraling riff there, a scattering of understated drums, and his graceful voice dancing over the top, he delivers a song that is one part pop, one part indie, and one part soul. It employs a beautiful lift between verse and chorus and a neat dynamic change to drop us back down from those rarefied sonic heights.

But of course, music is just one part of the package, and, as the video underlines, there is more at work here than mere song. The message is the thing. And here, his metaphorical Cup of Joe stands for something that has been lost. The political world is different from the place it was 50, 20 or even 10 years ago, something not just an American phenomenon but perhaps played out more publically on the world stage there than elsewhere. Somewhere along the way, thanks to divisive populist leaders, biased and conflicting media agendas, internet misinformation, and the continued rise of greed, celebrity, and the idea that there is only one political or social path or playbook, society has become entrenched. So much so that it feels as if there is a civil war taking place across debate and social media, one that threatens to, and indeed occasionally does, spill over into actual violence.

The Cup of Joe in question stands for a unifying factor, something as simple as taking a break from the rhetorical conflict, a social coffee break that settles and soothes. But, as the video reminds us that a new race for the White House is underway and political debate is weaponised once more, it is perhaps time to seek that middle ground. It is a reminder that human change is needed to solve climate change. Homelessness must be addressed before the country feels like a home again. That peace can’t be ushered in through war.

And the contrast between the gentle, soulful licks of this song and the martial music of the campaign rallies, between the softly spoken message found in these lyrics and the lecture-thumping and shouts of the political contenders, between the advocacy of harmony rather than the political polarisation sought by the various political cults and tribes, somewhat ironically, speaks volumes.

As always, a gorgeously understated song carrying one of the most vital messages of our times. It’s what Clay Joule does best. We are lucky to have him around. (I’d vote for him!)