In "Gasoline Can," Ma Polaine's Great Decline breathes new life into the murder ballad classic with a daring twist that breaks with the genre's tradition. The pop-folk-blues-Americana Somerset duo digs into the song with a mix of respect and insolence. "Gasoline Can" is an absolute refusal of the notion that women are victims when it comes to traditional murder ballads. Instead, it converts emotional pain into power, and the song was inspired by a friend's recent heartbreak.
The "goodbye" on that Tesco receipt doubles that emotional break and turns it into something much more substantial. Instead of carnage, the song is about agency and resilience, and the capacity of painful endings to shape things. The song also has a lot of blues, such as sultry singing, the music ratcheting up the tension, and a prevailing mood. Beth demonstrates how low heartbreak can get, but also how strong one is when they stand up for themselves.
The release will precede the duo's forthcoming fifth studio album, "Monster Swan," which delves into themes of social commentary, changing relationships, and the fine line between love's good and bad sides. "Gasoline Can" is a great way in. It combines heartfelt openness with artistic risk-taking and the trademark of Ma Polaine's unique style. "Gasoline Can" is a sturdy blues number that's dark and ruminative, fortified by lyrics that don't blink at inherited narratives. It's a wonder that this couple has resurrected itself and is still taking their art further and deeper into interesting territory.
Discover Ma Polaine's Great Decline on Instagram and Facebook