Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Do we take enough chances in life, do we explore with the fascination of a child rummaging through every toy in the box just to find the one puppet or model that catches our eye and our soul and to which we forever hold in reverence, whilst still pursuing other toys, other enjoyments in which to compare with? Arguably it could be stated that we do, but it then becomes more about ownership, about possession, and unlike the child, the adult finds they want it all but have no real need for the toy, they just want to covet it and keep it out of other’s reach.
Exploration should not lead to exploitation of the object, it is about balance, of knowing when to let go so that others can find the enjoyment; it is, in the words, and music of Gary Gardner, You Gotta Find Things To Know What To Keep.
Not everything we initially find to our taste lasts, human existence is so fleeting that it is impossibility to love everything we experience and find in our own toybox for an indefinite period, but in Gary Gardener’s music and application, what is found is always kept, and his latest recording takes shape, as it enthuses and pleasures the soul and the synapses, tracks such as Brace Yourself, Fall In To Place, Somewhere I Belong, Never Feel Lost Feel Found, and the excellent Watchtower, what is found doesn’t just request being kept, it produces evidence of its inclusion in your life, it implores that you share, and then, only then, will your soul be complete.
Gary Gardner’s instinct, his confirmation of sheer beauty and resounding sound, with added guitar by the legendary Jon Lawton, is proof that you can keep what you find to add value to your life, but rather than keeping it a secret, we should allow others in to the toy box to find all that we have loved, for by sharing we find we have more in common, we have more to talk about to each other than we realise.
You Gotta Find Things To Know What To Keep is epic Gary Gardner, a musician and lyric writer who knows exactly where to place the love down, and to when to crank up the determination of spirit. An album to keep, an album in which to communicate with others just how important exploration is.
Ian D. Hall