It will be no surprise to hear that Downtown Patriots, the moniker of mastermind Danny Watts, has fast become one of our favourite projects to cover. Danny’s emotive energy is truly unrivalled, so when we heard that he was back with Mother’s Arms, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Drawing us in with an electric and acoustic layered guitar soundscape, Danny sings, “Mother stands on the edge of love, mother stands alone, been a while since she’s spoke to her God, stares vacantly at her phone, passing the time she feels so numb, waiting for the answer she’s scared, to hear the news of her only son, she holds her rosary beads and prepares…”
This immediately sets the tone for the wider message of the song. Something relatable to many of us who have been away from our mothers, particularly those of us who have served in the armed forces, or had a loved one who has. Danny confesses, “Mother’s Arms was written in the wake of conflicts around the world.”
The lyrics feel very zeitgeist considering the state of reality. The inclusion of ukulele and mandolin add an organic presence to the track which certainly heightens the overarching emotional intention. Danny is genius storyteller, and Mother’s Arms is no exception to this. The song would fit perfectly on the sequel of Purple Hearts.
As always, Danny wrote and produced the track, and recorded it at Larchwood in Woodbridge, mixed at the incredible Decoy Sound Studio in Suffolk by Robert Sellens. We always appreciate a song that comes straight from source, and that is what Downtown Patriots always delivers – a strong universal connection that manifests in a moving piece of sonic art, not diluted by a bunch of suits, but straight from the artist’s heart.
Naturally, we have added Mother’s Arms to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Downtown Patriots‘ growing body of work, including Angels In The Snow, and Poppy Weeps In The Dark.