Where you’re a skilled orator or known as the one who always mixes up their words, we can all struggle with verbalising our thoughts. This common experience sits at the heart of the uncommonly spelling-binding sing ‘Had No Words’ from London-based duo Xy Bird.
Opening with a few sparkling guitar notes and warbling synth keys, the pair breathe life into the stripped-back introduction with honeyed tones that put the experience plainly. While dancing up and down the scale with ease, Daisy’s soulful voice opens up, “Didn’t say it would be easy, / Didn’t think you would believe me, / Put it off again naively, / Didn’t say it ’cause I had no words.” Even just in this first verse, Xy Bird hits on some poignant reasons (or excuses) for why someone might second guess what it is they want to need to say. After this point, the track emerges as a grooving number with luxuriously ticking bass, courtesy of guitarist Andrew. There’s also expressive and varied backing vocals to emphasise the significance of one’s voice. The drifting electric guitar adds a dream-pop quality, reminiscent of Thundercat or Anderson.Paak.
One of our favourite moments in the track arrives at the two minute mark when the airy grooves are replaced with a quick guitar strokes, finger clicks, rich hums, and a cathartic release of words. Here, more than anywhere else in the song, you can hear that frustration about being misheard or misunderstood come to the fore. Following the emotive explosion, the track seems to settle down back into the retro-inspired tranquility; the calm after the storm.
You can listen to ‘Had No Words’ in our Soul & Grooves playlist.
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