Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Taylor B-W, Independent 2022.
I hadn’t heard of Taylor B-W prior to receiving this single. She’s a Sydneysider who has already clocked up more than 130,000 Spotify streams in the first three months for her previous electro/pop single In Ur Net.
Tears Of Coal is a soulful track that’s been produced by Liam Quinn (Jessica Mauboy, Lime Cordiale) and it highlights Taylor’s expressive vocals and poetic lyrics.
The song begins slowly with plucked acoustic guitar as Taylor laments past heartbreak and the empty feelings associated with it.
As the track develops the music swells expressing the building passion and desire but also the fear of once again being hurt.
The song reaches its zenith with the chorus and the full band explodes into action.
It’s a carefully crafted electro/pop song that I suspect is mostly produced using software instruments rather than a band playing live in the studio.
The title needs a little teasing out, Taylor explains that “My previous experiences in love have left me in a mess, like the analogy ‘Tears Of Coal’ where fire surges through a town, leaving only coal and soot.”
I think what she has in mind is charcoal rather than the fuel that Mr Morrison proudly waved around in the parliament.
It’s a strange and troubling metaphor, I find it difficult to equate tears and coal no matter how bitter the tears are.
Still, this is a trifle. The song is good and Taylor sings it well.
Actually, Taylor is a qualified zookeeper and she’s involved in wildlife conservation and climate change activism, so you see where the analogy came from.
Tears Of Coal is Taylor’s last release before her upcoming debut EP so give it a listen and look out for the EP.
