This might be a bit too “behind the curtains” here, but I wanted to start this review of Luke Catley’s single Let me hurt by talking about my process of choosing what songs to cover. Now, whenever you invite the world to send you their latest tracks, you will always get an incredible mix of genres and abilities. All of our submissions offer something amazing as a consumer of indie music, but realistically not every song will be exactly my ‘cup of tea.’ So, I often flick through our lengthy submissions list while walking my dog.

On average, I probably listen to 30 seconds of a submission before determining if I will cover it, or if it will fall to our talented writing team. I hope to find a track that grips me; a song that doesn’t even allow me to move on to the next on the list. So when I found myself close to tears on a third listen of Let me hurt, the decision to cover the single had been made for me. Sorry Guenther (my four-legged walking companion), we’re sitting on a bench in a field and we’re listening one more time! 

The track opens with a deep, rich guitar sound, my assumption being a mahogany-bodied acoustic. (I’ve come back after doing a bit of research, and this seems to be his weapon of choice, so most likely correct!)

After a simple, but frankly beautiful chord progression the tone is mirrored by a mature and confident voice singing effortlessly. There’s a beautiful vulnerability in the voice; a breathy conversational feel that forces you to listen to every word. The lower vocal register is somewhat casual, but perfectly fitting for the design of the soundscape. Like a true craftsman, Luke Catley uses every tool purposefully, including the switch to falsetto to allow a change of dynamic without needing to add too many layers. Sonically, at its peak, this track offers rich layers of vocal harmonies, as well as production sweeteners around the consistent guitar – but nothing overwhelms the vocals, a testament to both the writing and studio work. They remain forefront in the forefront, critically exposed throughout.

This submission, like a fair few, came with a summary about the lyrics and intended meaning. I always enjoy this addition to any tracks getting sent – however, I will confess that for the most part, the desired meaning can feel contrived and forced. Because of my rapid-fire dog-walk technique of speeding through the list, I hadn’t read the summary before listening; the emotional captivation I felt was purely due to feeling seen. This was a song that tackled not only the difficulties of life, but also people’s attitudes when trying their best to support and how they often fall short. I hope Catley doesn’t mind me including a small snippet of his summary of the meaning:

I distinctly remember the realisation that other people’s fears can be dressed up as wisdom delivered to us when we are going through something difficult. 

Now, I would love to quote lyrics too. But honestly, I’d rather you go and listen. Because this song stopped me in my tracks, brought tears to my eyes and walked me through a complex explanation and observation on how we deal with all the difficulties life throws at us. Luke Catley has created a masterpiece with this song. I cannot wait to dive deeper into his discography and see what I’ve missed! 

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You can keep up with Luke Catley on his Spotify and Instagram.