The Speed of Sound – The Great Acceleration
The Speed of Sound’s “The Great Acceleration” takes listeners on an emotional adventure that combines alternative rock with big cinematic style, offering a challenging commentary on the current period of rapid technological growth. The Speed of Sound is a Manchester-based band that features Ann-Marie Crowley, Kevin Roache, John Broadhurst, and father-son team John and Henry Armstrong. Together, they create a sound that captures the spirit of alternative rock and adds elements of orchestration from the 1970s and cinematic drama. The song makes an immediate impression by starting off with powerful guitar chords that promise what’s to come. As the vocals enter, delivered with a melodramatic flair by Ann-Marie Crowley, the song takes on an anthemic quality, inviting listeners to join in the narrative of “The Great Acceleration.”With a funky rock-infused bassline and a sense of urgency in the instrumentation, The Speed of Sound creates a cinematic atmosphere that feels like a sci-fi epic unfolding before your ears. Influences from bands like Manic Street Preachers, Pylon, and Blondie are palpable, especially in Crowley’s vocal delivery, which exudes charisma and power. “The Great Acceleration” explores lyrically the themes of technology growth and its effects on society, presenting an uncertain future for humanity. The song gains depth via references to the Anthropocene and the unrelenting speed of advancement, which encourage listeners to consider the effects of our collective actions. With a crescendo of sound that arouses feelings of both exhilaration and dread, the band emphasizes acceleration and inevitability in the chorus. It’s a very moving moment of musical catharsis that epitomizes the meaning of the track’s themes. “The Great Acceleration” is more than simply a song; it’s a musical adventure that takes listeners beyond space and time and encourages them to consider the complexity of our contemporary world.
Photo Credit: photo by Shay Rowan
Order the album: https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-cornucopia-minerva
