You are about to be transported into a world of freedom and disturbance, of liberty and trouble, and of autonomy and chaos! It may sound far-fetched and a bit contradictory, but that’s exactly what Drop a Coin by The Open Flames does to you. It shows you both sides of the coin and lets you choose, taking you on a journey of contradictions that is, in a way, liberating.
This release is primarily inspired by the final moments of Ian Curtis, the iconic frontman of Joy Division, the band that brought a haunting voice and introspective lyrics to the post-punk music scene. His intense stage presence and struggles with epilepsy and mental health shaped his art, making him a symbol of tragic genius following his suicide at 23. One can only imagine the extent of emotional suffering that led him to such a decision. Drop a Coin was written, as stated by The Open Flames, “with the metaphor of paying a tithe to a blind girl sitting at the Gates of Hell to describe the hesitation before knocking on the door of your prom date, or a wedding chapel,” emphasizing those moments just before taking a bold, life-changing step. It’s as if you’re stepping into a completely new universe to unravel its new mysteries; and your soul is fired up with fear, anxiety, panic, helplessness, and an extreme sense of longing for hope.
Drop A Coin is almost a journey. The first couple of verses are mainly setting up the scene for the listener. Just letting you paint that relatively still image of this little girl quietly sitting “at the gates of hell,” simply speechless as “there is nothing more to say.” I mean, what can be said at this moment? Yes, it might seem like a steady and still moment which is perfectly reflected by the steady drum beat and guitar riffs used in the first couple of verses, but it absolutely isn’t. It is indeed a masquerading moment, with the backing female vocal line reflecting an attempt at self-soothing as usually making the decision is much harder than actually acting upon it. Then we have “Step into the light” which marks the start of the second part of the song. This is a new world, and the shift in instrumentation crafts a distinguished parallel universe where you feel like you are being serenaded by the wind. It’s scary, fascinating, unusual, liberating, mysterious, and incredibly captivating.
Drop A Coin by The Open Flames is by no means a superficial release. There is depth in inspiration, lyrics, as well as in its musical reflectiveness through instrumentation and production. It is a unique and interesting mix of gloom, pensiveness, and emancipation; an incredibly layered release delivered with the utmost grace.
