Paul Jenner, an independent artist from Ealing in England, is the creator of the music project known as 50mething. The single “Obsession” assigns the intensity of a love song to a common daily routine, namely keeping music handy with earbuds ready for the next train journey, a difficult afternoon or an unexpected change of mood. Jenner made the record in his home studio and also provides himself with ample material by constructing the song around a bass line which enters and then stays throughout.
The bass is the section that kept drawing me in; it has a springiness about it which gives the song a sense of momentum as Jenner introduces further sounds into the arrangement. In the chorus the guitar comes forward, the vocal harmonies become thicker, and the song becomes more complicated without in any way losing the groove that originally started it. Finally, the brass enters towards the end. It provides “Obsession” with one final surge of energy, which is the kind of conclusion that makes it entirely sensible to reach for the replay button.
Comfort, Devotion, Groove
-PurpleMistress
The title seems a bit dramatic for a piece concerned with listening to music, and this is one of the things that makes it appealing. Jenner is aware of how swiftly an ordinary day can be arranged around the next piece of music you’d like to hear; one song leads on to another, a familiar rhythm helps you get through a period of work, and the headphones remain in your pocket since you’ll want them again. “Obsession” focuses on this kind of relationship and uses the music to make its case.
A great deal of care is shown in this home recording when it comes to the subject in question. The bass has a role to play, the chorus gains its extra weight, and the brass ensure that the final part is worth the wait. With the length of the piece being almost five minutes, Jenner allows the arrangement to build up gradually. The song’s love of music is evident in the attention he gives to his own playing, from the very first steady rhythm right through to the flourish with which it ends.
