Green Hands’ outlook comes from the place of experience rather than innocence; from a life that has been well and truly lived. Inspired by memories about an all-too-brief year spent living in Bristol, ‘Been Around’, in its non-specific way, rings with notions of lessons learnt along the road of life, and the wisdom that lies before us now. And though the song’s main refrain – “I could have been around a while” – is touched by those wrangling questions of “what if’s and what could have been’s” – the brightness of the music, those jangling guitars and backing vocal whoops – (Teenage Fanclub meets Langkamer, if you will) – are produced with such giddying happiness that the mood becomes overwhelmingly one of glorious, life-affirming acceptance and contentment. In other words, Green Hands feel like a friendly face in a lonely street, an arm around the shoulder, a drink brought for you at the bar.
And it’s fair to say that the band have ‘been around’ themselves, if you’ll excuse the pun. Formed in 2017 by Leamington-based vocalist Jack Telford – with EPs here and albums there (including one released on Langkamer’s Breakfast Records), upcoming EP Anywhere, Anyplace, Anytime – due for release on March 1st via Stingo Collective – could well be their most accomplished work to date.
Words: Elvis Thirlwell // Photo: Sophie Amelia Knight
‘Been Around’ is out now via Stingo Collective. Stream or purchase the track via Bandcamp.