Adult Mom ‘Tenderness’

Olivia here.  The ancient greeks, in their infinite wisdom, had no less than eight different words for ‘love’. ‘Eros’ is of course erotic love, ‘philia’, or affectionate love (as in Philadelphia, the city of ‘brotherly love’), ‘agape’, which is selfless love, and ‘mania’, or ‘obsessive love’, are just a few examples. There’s not doubt that over a lifetime, people experience different types of love, from the platonic love felt for a best friend (Greek alert), to the love you feel for your mother, to the love you feel for your partner. Sometimes love is nurturing and supportive, and allows you to grow mentally (and perhaps literally – you often hear about loved up people feeling a few inches taller). Sadly, love can also be toxic – controlling, obsessive, or even abusive – although many would argue that this isn’t true love at all. Love can make people stay in unhealthy relationships when logically they should have left a long time ago; unable to break free of the mental shackles that keep them there. It can be all consuming; its victims left unable to eat, or sleep, stomach churning in nervous apprehension, feet tripped over in clumsy self consciousness. Whatever kind of love you have experienced, I’m sure you will agree that it is extremely powerful. To me, no one puts it better than Haruki Murakami in my favourite (non Harry Potter) book, Sputnik Sweetheart:

“No mistake about it. Ice is cold; roses are red; I’m in love. And this love is about to carry me off somewhere. The current’s too overpowering; I don’t have any choice. It may very well be a special place, some place I’ve never seen before. Danger may be lurking there, something that may end up wounding me deeply, fatally. I might end up losing everything. But there’s no turning back. I can only go with the flow. Even if it means I’ll be burned up, gone forever.”

Today’s Track Of The Day stays on this theme of love; more specifically, a first experience with gentleness and kindness. ‘Tenderness‘ is the new single from Adult Mom, taken from their forthcoming album ‘Soft Spots‘. Sung as both a warning to a lover (this is going to be really hard for me/ to accept your love), and an acceptance of how difficult and beautiful love can be, lead singer Stephanie Knipe’s honest vocal is cushioned by pillowy guitars and gentle percussion, a hazy sound world that is cut through at the chorus with crashing drums and surging bass lines. Enjoy and hope you all have a loved up weekend.