"I live in a hive of compartments and codes," Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist Ben Gunning begins on his latest, "Live In Love," pining over lines of neon, rubbery R&B. It's a thoroughly synthetic dance track, virtuosic in execution, that still wants more — machine precision and human desire placed at odds from the outset. It is the post-industrial story, with its accelerating demand on our labour and time, built into dance music.
To give flesh to the composition, Gunning convened a Toronto supergroup of performers: Joseph Shabason of Destroyer and DIANA handles the saxophone; Alanna Stuart (Bonjay), Felicity Williams, Robin Dann (Bernice), and Thom Gill sing backup; Kieran Adams, also of DIANA, plays drums, assorted percussion, and produced the track.
"Musically," Gunning says, "I started with something that had an R&B, dance flavour but decided to obscure it a bit with some disorienting stuff like rotating uneven bars (if you notice the beat kinda flipping through the tune — that's what's happening). I try to be exacting about melody and write it out for maximum emotional impact and minimum rote-ness."
On the sentiment that animates the whole track — the desire to "live in love" — Gunning left us with the following:
Despite the possibility that I exude a vibe that I've got the world by the balls — I work a job downtown and wear a suit — I have had to split myself into the practical, material self and the more important, loving, seeking, spiritual self.
"Live in Love" is about the hope of clawing out of the suffocating vapidness that is so prevalent in our day to day existence and transcending to a place of connection and love — hoping the practical self doesn't crush the spiritual one.
The words "spiritual self" are not likely to go un-scoffed-at in this era/place/demographic or whatever so if you feel me there, I'm not the only one experiencing this malaise... I'm not a very peaceful, open dude — I wish I was — but I'm trying to learn.
PREMIERE: Ben Gunning’s candy-coloured R&B cut “Live In Love” craves a sweeter life by chris hampton | Chart Attack.
