Garrett Anthony Rice’s The Coastal Walls (the shame of everyone) Is a Blues-Soaked Reckoning

It wasn't long ago that I was waxing lyrical about Irish solo artist Garrett Anthony Rice. He'd just released his rich and poignant single In The Darkness With The Spirit Of The Lake (a family tragedy), and it was a tune that really stuck with me moving forward. Since then, Garrett has delivered two more tracks in the form of Standing In A Robe and The Coastal Walls (the shame of everyone), and today, I am honoured to get to feature the latter.

Documenting the American slave trade and the still ongoing horrors faced by those enslaved, Garrett's latest song is bold, unflinching, and just like In The Darkness, completely gripping. Using blues-based instruments that evoke the Deep South, the musician concocts a lush, textured tune that feels steeped in history - though its themes remain disturbingly relevant in the modern day.

Intentionally arriving as America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, The Coastal Walls is a call for reparations and apologies. "In July, there is a 'celebration' of 250 years of thievery and murder from the Native Indians and the brutal forced placement of stolen Africans," explains Garrett.

Already refusing to accept any potential awards the track may receive, Garrett Anthony Rice is an artist with courage and integrity. And let's be honest, those are two traits often lacking in today’s musical landscape.

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